The Lecythophora-Coniochaeta complex II. Molecular studies based on sequences of the large subunit of ribosomal DNA

Phylogenetic analyses of LSU rDNA confirm the association of Lecythophora species with teleomorphs of Coniochaeta. The Lecythophora states described until now, including the type species, L. lignicola, as well as L. hoffmanii, L. mutabilis, L. luteoviridis, L. fasciculata, and L. decumbens, cluster together with Coniochacta species. In neighbour-joining analysis, the Lecythophora-Coniochaeta group was found to be situated with strong support in a cluster consisting of unitunicate pyrenomycetes. It was not possible to clarify relationships at ordinal level. The Lecythophora states of Coniochaeta ligniaria, C malacotricha, C. velutina, and C. pulveracea, differing from each other in both morphological and cultural characteristics, were also distinguishable by LSU rDNA analysis, but proved not to be identical with any of the described Lecythophora species, Lecythophora lignicola, L lutcoviridis, and L. fasciculata clustered together with C. velutina, and are therefore regarded as closely related to this species, while L. mutabilis was close to C. ligniaria, and L. decumbens close to C pulveracea. The tested species of other genera with adelophialides were found to cluster at a relatively great distance from the Lecythophora-Coniochaeta group within the groups of unitunicate pyrenomycetes, als well as the Helotiales, Chaetothyriales, and Dothideales.