Reconstructing the evolutionary history of the Raveneliaceae (Basidiomycota: Pucciniales) using hyRAD sequencing, and revision of their taxonomy

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Rust fungi represent the most species-rich group of plant parasitic fungi and have a high economic relevance in agriculture and forestry. In addition to their often devastating effects on anthropogenic agrosystems, rust fungi are also discussed in natural ecosystems in connection with their influence on the composition of plant communities as well as with the preservation of the genetic diversity of their host plants. But despite this high economic and ecological relevance, the knowledge of the phylogeny of rust still shows numerous gaps. This lack of knowledge particularly applies to the evolution of morphological traits. For example, only 8 of 13 accepted families could be confirmed as monophyletic. In this context, the tropically distributed rust fungi must be particularly emphasized, since, with a few exceptions, they have so far been significantly underrepresented in molecular phylogenetic studies.Ravenelia (Raveneliaceae) is by far the most species-rich rust fungus genus in the tropics. Current studies not only suggest a polyphyletic origin of this genus, but also indicate a paraphyletic position of the entire Raveneliaceae with regard to the Chaconiaceae, Phakopsoraceae and the Pileolariaceae.Besides morphological analyses, in this research project I would like to apply the method of hyRAD-sequencing. The genetic data, produced by this method, will serve as the basis on which the taxonomic concepts of the Raveneliaceae and related groups will be investigated and revised. Compared to classical PCR-based methods, this method has the advantage of making degraded DNA of older herbarium specimens accessible for analysis, which allows for a much more extensive species sampling. In addition, the use of herbarium specimens minimizes possible restrictions with regard to national legislation as well as the financial and logistical effort required for the new collection of important key species.This research project is thus not only intended to make an important contribution to the study the evolution of tropical rust fungi and to offer a precise taxonomic classification, but also to establish protocols for the utilisation of the numerous plant parasitic fungi records deposited in herbaria.