title: Three common bryophilous fungi with meristematic anamorphs and phylogenetic alliance to Teratosphaeriaceae, Capnodiales.
abstract: Bryophilous ascomycetes are an overlooked and poorly known fungal group. In this study, the extreme and small-sized niche of Polytrichum piliferum hyaline leaf tips was screened for the presence of these fungi in Finland. Three closely related species were found. Bryochiton perpusillus and Bryochiton monascus were identified from several samples, and DNA isolations revealed a third closely related species, Bryochiton sp. In addition, melanised hyphae, typical to the Bryochiton species, were present in all the samples. According to phylogenetic analyses consisting of combined small subunit (SSU), large subunit (LSU), and 5.8S rDNA sequences, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequences, the species showed affinity with Teratosphaeriaceae within Capnodiales, and especially with black, meristematic species often inhabiting rock substrate in extreme environments. The connection was supported by meristematic growth of the Bryochiton species in culture. Bryochiton is the second sexual genus associated within the family Teratosphaeriaceae, and B. perpusillus, and B. monascus constitute examples of teleomorphs within a group of meristematic anamorphs. These findings emphasize the multiform diversity underlying poorly researched fungal groups, such as the bryophilous fungi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland. Electronic address: pauliina.wali@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pauliina P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Wäli
authors.affiliation: Herbarium, University of Turku, Turku, FI-20014, Finland.
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huhtinen
authors.affiliation: Botanical Museum, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pino-Bodas
authors.affiliation: Botanical Museum, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Soili
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stenroos
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000382:microbiology*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D005387:Finland; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
keywords: Black fungi; Bryochiton; Bryophyte-associated ascomycetes; Bryosymbionts; Microniche; Polytrichum piliferum