available online at www.studiesinmycology.org StudieS in Mycology 64: 155–173. 2009. doi:10.3114/sim.2009.64.09 Molecular systematics of the marine Dothideomycetes S. Suetrong1, 2, C.L. Schoch3, J.W. Spatafora4, J. Kohlmeyer5, B. Volkmann-Kohlmeyer5, J. Sakayaroj2, S. Phongpaichit1, K. Tanaka6, K. Hirayama6 and E.B.G. Jones2* 1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand; 2Bioresources Technology Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), 113 Thailand Science Park, Paholyothin Road, Khlong 1, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand; 3National Center for Biothechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, 45 Center Drive, MSC 6510, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-6510, U.S.A.; 4Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, U.S.A.; 5Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557, U.S.A.; 6Faculty of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Hirosaki University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8561, Japan *Correspondence: E.B. Gareth Jones,
[email protected] Abstract: Phylogenetic analyses of four nuclear genes, namely the large and small subunits of the nuclear ribosomal RNA, transcription elongation factor 1-alpha and the second largest RNA polymerase II subunit, established that the ecological group of marine bitunicate ascomycetes has representatives in the orders Capnodiales, Hysteriales, Jahnulales, Mytilinidiales, Patellariales and Pleosporales. Most of the fungi sequenced were intertidal mangrove taxa and belong to members of 12 families in the Pleosporales: Aigialaceae, Didymellaceae, Leptosphaeriaceae, Lenthitheciaceae, Lophiostomataceae, Massarinaceae, Montagnulaceae, Morosphaeriaceae, Phaeosphaeriaceae, Pleosporaceae, Testudinaceae and Trematosphaeriaceae. Two new families are described: Aigialaceae and Morosphaeriaceae, and three new genera proposed: Halomassarina, Morosphaeria and Rimora.