Family placement of Ascotaiwania and Ascolacicola based on DNA sequences from the large subunit rRNA gene

Abstract

The family placement of Ascotaiwania and Ascolacicola have been analysed by using partial sequences of the large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA). The 5′ end of the LSU rDNA was included in the analysis, which consisted of species from the Diaporthales, Halosphaeriales, Hypocreales, Microascales, Sordariales and Xylariales. The resulting trees indicate that Ascotaiwania is unrelated to the Annulatascaceae. A close relationship between the anamorphs of the different species of Ascotaiwania were found and they were closely related to Monotosporella setosa, the type species of Monotosporella, Based on morphological characters, production of different anamorphs, and the sequence analysis, it was found that Ascolacicola differs from Ascotaiwania, Ascolacicola was most closely related to the Sordariaceae.