[On the problem og higher fungi origin: Florideae hypothesis].
The history and current state of the hypothesis of the origin of higher fungi (Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes) and red algae from the common ancestor (Florideae) were analysed. Initially the hypothesis was based on similarity of their vegetative and generative structures (Sachs, 1874; Dodge, 1914; Chadefaund, 1953, 1972, etc.), but later it was confirmed by ultrastructural data (Demoulin, 1974; Kohlmeyer, 1975). It appears to be very useful for the study of the development of terrestrial flora (Church, 1921; Kohlemeyer, Kohlmeyer, 1979; Atsatt, 1988) and regularities in morphological evolution of higher fungi (Corner, 1964, 1970; Chadefaud, 1960, 1982, 1984). Description of the order Spathulosporales (Kohlmeyer, 1973), combining the characters of Ascomycetes and parasitic Florideae, was one of the most important fact leading to the wide recognition of the hypothesis in 1970-80s (Cavalier-Smith, 1978; Taylor, 1978; Dodge, 1980; Hawksworth, 1982; Goff, 1983; Coff, Coleman, 1985). Today, however, Florideae hypothesis is not confirmed by molecular data and replaced by alternative hypothesis of Eumycota origin. Summarizing data on molecular systematic of fungi, one could affirm with confidence: 1). Chitincontaining fungi are closer to multicellular animals and green plants than to Rhodophyta; 2). Rhodophyta and Chlorophyta are monophyletic group; 3). There is no single-valued molecular data on taxonomic distance between higher fungi, Chytridiomycetes; Rhodophyta, Chlorophyta and Metazoa. Thus, the current data could not testify against Florideae hypothesis. It is possible to adjust them with the idea of B.M. Kozo-Polyansky (1927) about existence of "Chloroflorodeae" group that is original for terrestrial flora; the hypothesis about closeness of Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta, as well as Chlorophyta and Eumycota, does not contradict molecular data (Stiller, Hall, 1997). The author believes that we need molecular study of the whole "stem" of chlorobionta, especially groups that are close to its basis. It will will help to understand the relationships between Rhodophyta, giant conglomeration of "green algae", chitin-containing fungi, Prasinophyceae and different groups of zoomastigot with maximal resolution--the level of orders or groups of orders. Only such investigation could provide the material for molecular support of phylogenetic constructions. Up to moment Florideae hypothesis is able to exist together with the other ideas.
Zmitrovich
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V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Science, Prof. Popov ul. 2, St.-Petersburg 197376, Russia. ivan@IZ6284.spb.edu
D001203:Ascomycota; D001487:Basidiomycota; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D000461:Rhodophyta