Phylogeny of Pezicula, Dermea and Neofabraea inferred from partial sequences of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene cluster

The phylogenetic relationship between Pezicula, Dermea and Neofabraea species (Dermateaceae, Leotiales) was investigated using sequence analysis of part of the 18S ribosomal DNA, the internal transcribed spacer 1, the 5.8S ribosomal DNA and the internal transcribed spacer 2. DNA was isolated from 44 CBS-strains (7 Dermea, 3 Neofabraea and 34 Pezicula species). Parsimony analysis confirmed the morphology-based hypothesis that Ocellaria ocellata should be considered as a true Pezicula species. Furthermore, the position of two taxa (Pezicula malicorticis and Pe. alnicola) was found to be outside the Pezicula main cluster.