XVI International Botanical Congess

Ascomycete molecular phylogenies have to a large extent been derived upon ribosomal RNA gene sequences. We have compared phylogenetic trees obtained from the SSU, LSU and 5.8S rDNA sequence data with trees from a number of protein coding genes: Beta tubulin, RPB2 and Enolase. A new set of degenerate primers were used for amplification and direct sequencing of the Beta tubulin and Enolase genes. In the present study, we have focused on the relationships between the genera commonly viewed as the basal ascomycetes (Neolecta, Pneumocystis, Protomyces, Saitoella, Schizosaccharomyces and Taphrina) and their relationships to the rest of the phylum. The fruit-body forming genus Neolecta is strongly supported as being derived from an early lineage of ascomycetes.