Molecular Systematics and Evolution of Simple-Septate Basidomycetes

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9318232 McLaughlin Among the estimated 16,000 species of basidiomycete fungi, the familiar mushrooms and puffballs and bracket fungi of the world, are forms without conspicuous fruiting bodies but possessing microscopic spore-bearing structures. The taxonomic relationships of these numerous fungal forms are little studied, although many economically important crop pathogens and ecologically significant saprobic groups are included here. As well, the phylogenetic or genealogical affinities of these fungi, among themselves and with the ascomycete fungi, are poorly known. New molecular methods of DNA sequencing promise large quantities of comparative data for integration with current morphological and ultrastructural findings for eventual taxonomic and phylogenetic synthesis. Dr. David McLaughlin at the University of Minnesota and postdoctoral associate Dr. Eric Swann have started a major project to acquire DNA sequence data for numerous representatives of the simple septate groups of Heterobasidiomycetes, and to integrate these new molecular data with traditional taxonomic characters. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the fungi hold great promise for improving taxonomic recognition of the major lines of evolution and for resolving longstanding controversies about the origin and morphological diversification of saprobic and pathogenic groups of basidiomycetes.