Molecular systematics of the dimorphic ascomycete genus Taphrina

The ascomycete genus Taphrina Fries comprises nearly 100 species recognized by their mycelial states when parasitic on different vascular plants. Whereas the filamentous state is strictly phytoparasitic, the yeast state is saprobic and can be cultured on artificial media. Taphrina species are differentiated mainly on the basis of host range and geographical distribution, type and site of infection and morphology of the sexual stage in infected tissue. However, there has been little progress in the systematics of the genus in recent years, mainly because of the scarcity of molecular studies and available cultures. The main aim of the present study was the reappraisal of species boundaries in Taphrina based on the genetic characterization of cultures (yeast states) that represent about one-third of the currently recognized species. The molecular methods used were (i) PCR fingerprinting using single primers for microsatellite regions and (ii) determination of nucleotide sequences of two approx. 600 bp nuclear rDNA regions, the 5' end of the 26S RNA gene (D1/D2 domains) and the internal transcribed spacer region (which includes the 5.8S rRNA gene). Sequencing results confirmed the monophyly of the genus (with the probable exclusion of Taphrina vestergrenii) and the combined analysis of the two methods corroborated, in most cases, separation of species defined on the basis of conventional criteria. However, genetic heterogeneity was found within some species and conspecificity was suggested for strains that have been deemed to represent distinct species. Sequences from the ITS region displayed a higher degree of divergence than those of the D1/D2 region between closely related species, but were relatively conserved within species (> 99 % identity) and were thus more useful for the effective differentiation of Taphrina species. The results further allowed other topics to be addressed such as the correlation between the molecular phylogenetic clustering of certain species and the respective host plant family and the significance of molecular methods in the accurate diagnosis of the different diseases caused by Taphrina species.