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. 2012 Dec:29:63-77.
doi: 10.3767/003158512X660562. Epub 2012 Dec 4.

Soral synapomorphies are significant for the systematics of the Ustilago-Sporisorium-Macalpinomyces complex (Ustilaginaceae)

A R McTaggart  1 , R G Shivas, A D W Geering, B Callaghan, K Vánky, T Scharaschkin
Affiliations

Soral synapomorphies are significant for the systematics of the Ustilago-Sporisorium-Macalpinomyces complex (Ustilaginaceae)

A R McTaggart et al. Persoonia. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

The genera Ustilago, Sporisorium and Macalpinomyces are a polyphyletic complex of plant pathogenic fungi. The four main morphological characters used to define these genera have been considered homoplasious and not useful for resolving the complex. This study re-evaluates character homology and discusses the use of these characters for defining monophyletic groups recovered from a reconstructed phylogeny using four nuclear loci. Generic delimitation of smut fungi based on their hosts is also discussed as a means for identifying genera within this group. Morphological characters and host specificity can be used to circumscribe genera within the Ustilago-Sporisorium-Macalpinomyces complex.

Keywords: Ustilaginales; columella; maximum likelihood; morphology; peridium; smut fungi; spore balls; sterile cells; systematics.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Phylogram obtained from a maximum likelihood analysis in RAxML. Maximum likelihood support values (> 70 %) from RAxML 1000 bootstrap replicates and PhyML aRLT values shown above the nodes. Posterior probabilities (> 0.95) from Bayesian inference shown below the nodes.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Structure of the columella mapped onto five clades of the Ustilago, Sporisorium and Macalpinomyces complex. S. = Sporisorium, U. = Ustilago, M. = Macalpinomyces.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Distribution of sterile cells within clades of the Ustilago, Sporisorium and Macalpinomyces complex. S. = Sporisorium, U. = Ustilago, M. = Macalpinomyces.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Presence of spore balls within clades of the Ustilago, Sporisorium and Macalpinomyces complex. S. = Sporisorium, U. = Ustilago, M. = Macalpinomyces.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Clade 1 character states. a. Columellae in Sporisorium reilianum; b. branched columella destroying entire inflorescence in S. doidgeae; c. spores and sterile cells of S. themedae; d. all ovaries of the inflorescence infected in S. ryleyi; e. all spikelets of the inflorescence infected in S. rarum; f. spores and sterile cells of S. rarum. — Scale bars: a, b, e = 1 cm; c, f = 10 μm.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Clade 2 character states. a. Localized spikelets infected by Macalpinomyces tubiformis; b. spores and sterile cells in M. tubiformis. — Scale bars: a = 1 cm; b = 10 μm.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Clade 4 character states. a. Localized spikelets infected in Clade 4 character states. a. Localized spikelets infected in Sporisorium heteropogonicola; b. dimorphic spores of S. heteropogonicola; c. entire inflorescence destroyed by S. caledonicum; d. permanent spore balls of S. caledonicum. — Scale bars: a, c = 1 cm; b, d = 10 μm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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