Phylogenetic relationships of Peronospora and related genera based on nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences

In order to investigate phylogenetic relationships of selected members of Peronosporaceae to the genera Pythium, Halophytophthora, Phytophthora, and Peronophythora, Bayesian analysis of partial sequences of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region was performed. In addition, sequences of the complete ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region were analysed for 101 collections belonging to the genera Peronospora, Hyaloperonospora, Perofascia, Pseudoperonospora, Phytophthora and Peronophythora, using Bayesian inference of phylogeny and maximum parsimony. The results confirm a close relationship of these genera. The strongly supported Peronosporaceae clade is located within the paraphyletic genus Phytophthora (including Peronophythora). Monophyly of the genera Pseudoperanospora and Hyaloperonospora are strongly supported, but monophyly of Peronospora s. str. can neither be confirmed nor rejected. Within Peronospora s. str., basic relationships often remain unclear; however, some groups form highly supported monophyletic clades. Peronospora species parasitising the same host families or orders are only partly resolved as monophyletic, indicating frequent host-jumping also between distantly related host families. All species inhabiting flowers of different host families form a strongly supported monophyletic group.