Evolution of complex symbiotic relationships in a morphologically derived family of lichen-forming fungi

• Published in: New Phytologist
• Main Authors: Divakar, Pradeep K., Crespo, Ana, Wedin, Mats, Leavitt, Steven D., Hawksworth, David L., Myllys, Leena, Lumbsch, H. Thorsten
• Other Authors: Anadolu Üniversitesi, Fen Fakültesi, Biyoloji Bölümü
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2015
• Subjects: Ancestral Character Reconstruction; Ascomycota; Lichenicolous Fungi; Mutualism; Parmeliaceae; Phylogeny; Raesaenenia; Tromso
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/11421/15917; https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13553

WOS: 000365393000021 PubMed ID: 26299211 We studied the evolutionary history of the Parmeliaceae (Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota), one of the largest families of lichen-forming fungi with complex and variable morphologies, also including several lichenicolous fungi. We assembled a six-locus data set including nuclear, mitochondrial and low-copy protein-coding genes from 293 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The lichenicolous lifestyle originated independently three times in lichenized ancestors within Parmeliaceae, and a new generic name is introduced for one of these fungi. In all cases, the independent origins occurred c. 24 million yr ago. Further, we show that the Paleocene, Eocene and Oligocene were key periods when diversification of major lineages within Parmeliaceae occurred, with subsequent radiations occurring primarily during the Oligocene and Miocene. Our phylogenetic hypothesis supports the independent origin of lichenicolous fungi associated with climatic shifts at the Oligocene-Miocene boundary. Moreover, diversification bursts at different times may be crucial factors driving the diversification of Parmeliaceae. Additionally, our study provides novel insight into evolutionary relationships in this large and diverse family of lichen-forming ascomycetes. Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion [CGL2010-21646/BOS, CGL2011-25003, CGL2013-42498-P]; Universidad Complutense-Banco Santander [GR3/14]; Comunidad Autonoma de Madrid [REMEDINAL S-2009/AMB-1783]; National Science Foundation [DEB-0949147]; Swedish Research Council [VR621-2009-5372, VR 621-2012-3990]; Academy of Finland [1133858]; Estonian Science Foundation [9109]; European Regional Development Fund (Center of Excellence FIBIR); German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD); Tromso University Museum We are indebted to Adriano A. Spielmann, Joel Mercado, Robert Egan, Udeni Jayalal and Daniel Sanchez Mata for providing a few samples, and to Rosario G. Gavilan for assisting in collecting expeditions. We also thank editors and anonymous ...