Phylogenetic relationships in Neonectria species having Cylindrocarpon anamorphs inferred from mitochondrial ribosomal DNA sequences

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Abstract
Mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU) rDNA sequences elucidated phylogenetic relationships in Neonectria Wollenw. (anamorphs = Cylindrocarpon Wollenw.; Ascomycetes, Hypocreales). Twelve isolates representing seven species in five taxonomically informal groups of Neonectria were subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Fusarium inflexum R. Schneid. (teleomorph: Gibberella) and Nectria cinnabarina (Fr.) Fr. (= Nectria s.str.) were outgroups. All of the Neonectria species formed a strongly supported clade with respect to the outgroups, indicating a single ascomycete genus for the holomorphs of Cylindrocarpon. Within the Neonectria clade there were three well-supported subclades that only partially corresponded to phenotype-defined groups. DNA sequence divergence among the twelve Neonectria isolates, 2.3-7.4%, was sufficient to resolve them. The results suggest that the mtSSU rDNA region is appropriate for phylogenetic analysis of Neonectria and Cylindrocarpon. The following new combinations are proposed: Neonectria coronata, Neonectria discophora, Neonectria neomacrospora, Neonectria radicicola, Neonectria rugulosa, Neonectria veuillotiana.Key words: Ascomycetes, Hypocreales, Nectria, systematics, tree pathogens.