Phylogenetic evaluation of stereoid fungi

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships of stereoid fungi were examined by comparing nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences. Stereoid taxa were scattered into several groups and the traditional Stereaceae proved to be polyphyletic. Stereum and Xylobolus were classified in the Stereaceae as the core group of stereoid fungi, and Amylostereum was grouped with Echinodontium of the Echinodontiaceae. Chondrostereum and Cystostereum were clustered in the Stereaceae sensu Donk and Cymatoderma and Podoscypha in the Podoscyphaceae Reid. Columnocystis abietinum and C. ambigua were grouped with Meripilus giganteus and proved to be not included in the Chaetodermataceae sensu Nakasone. Lopharia cinerascens and L. mirabilis were grouped together but L. spadicea was unrelated to them, indicating that Lopharia is heterogeneous at a generic level.