STUDIES IN MYCOLOGY 55: 75–97. 2006. Multi-gene phylogenies define Ceratocystiopsis and Grosmannia distinct from Ophiostoma Renate D. Zipfel1, Z. Wilhelm de Beer2*, Karin Jacobs3, Brenda D. Wingfield1 and Michael J. Wingfield2 1Department of Genetics, 2Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; 3Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa *Correspondence: Z. Wilhelm de Beer,
[email protected] Abstract: Ophiostoma species have diverse morphological features and are found in a large variety of ecological niches. Many different classification schemes have been applied to these fungi in the past based on teleomorph and anamorph features. More recently, studies based on DNA sequence comparisions have shown that Ophiostoma consists of different phylogenetic groups, but the data have not been sufficient to define clear monophyletic lineages represented by practical taxonomic units. We used DNA sequence data from combined partial nuclear LSU and β-tubulin genes to consider the phylogenetic relationships of 50 Ophiostoma species, representing all the major morphological groups in the genus. Our data showed three well-supported, monophyletic lineages in Ophiostoma. Species with Leptographium anamorphs grouped together and to accommodate these species the teleomorph-genus Grosmannia (type species G. penicillata), including 27 species and 24 new combinations, is re-instated. Another well-defined lineage includes species that are cycloheximide-sensitive with short perithecial necks, falcate ascospores and Hyalorhinocladiella anamorphs. For these species, the teleomorph-genus Ceratocystiopsis (type species O. minuta), including 11 species and three new combinations, is re-instated.