Phylogeny of the Order (, ): Among and Within Order Relationships Based on Five Molecular Loci

The order (, ) is a group of biotrophic, obligate plant parasitic fungi with a tropical distribution and high host specificity. Traditionally two families are recognised within this order: and , based mostly on morphological and host characteristics. Currently, the position of the order within the class is inconclusive, as well as the monophyly of the order, and its internal phylogenetic structure. Here we present a phylogeny of the order based on sequence data of 29 species with a broad host range resulting from a wide geographical sampling. We inferred Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogenies from data of five DNA regions: nrLSU rDNA, nrSSU rDNA, ITS rDNA, and the protein coding genes , and . We found that the order is monophyletic and related to members of the subclass within . Within the order, members of the family form a monophyletic group, and the family is split into two lineages. Maximum Likelihood ancestral state reconstructions indicate that the ancestor of had a monocotyledonous host plant, immersed perithecia, and a black stroma. Alternative states of these characters evolved multiple times independently within the order. Based on our results we redefine the family and propose the new family with as type species, resulting in three families in the order. Species of spp. occur in several monocotyledonous and eudicotyledonous host plants except , and generally have enlarged black pseudostroma around the perithecia, a character not present in species of .