CERATOCYSTIOPSIS - A REAPPRAISAL BASED ON MOLECULAR CRITERIA

Analysis of partial rDNA sequences from both the small and large subunit genes of species of Ceratocystiopsis suggests they represent a polyphyletic group. Therefore the production of falcate-like ascospores, the key feature of this genus, is an example of convergent evolution. The partial rDNA sequences also show that the majority of Ceratocystiopsis spp. can be placed in Ophiostoma along with Ceratocystis ips, a conclusion supported at the 100% confidence level by bootstrap analysis. Therefore we formally reduce Ceratocystiopsis to synonymy with Ophiostoma and provide the necessary new combinations in Ophiostoma. However, C. proteae, C. falcata, and C. alba are shown to have a very distant relationship with Ophiostoma, and their taxonomic position remains unresolved.