Phylogenetic relationships in some Leptosphaeria and Phaeosphaeria species

Cladistic analyses of some Leptosphaeria and Phaeosphaeria species were carried out using morphological and molecular data (ITS2 and part of 28S rDNA sequence). The results indicate that the Phaeosphaeria species form a natural group, receiving support from both types of data. However, subdivision of Phaeosphaeria into subgenera based on ascospore morphology does not indicate evolutionary relatedness. Leptosphaeria sensu lato is paraphyletic, but Leptosphaeria sensu stricto appears to form a clade. Characters that are useful in delimiting the two genera include: shape of ascoma, ascomal position relative to the substrate, and the type of cells making up the peridium.