title: Entorrhizomycota: A New Fungal Phylum Reveals New Perspectives on the Evolution of Fungi.
abstract: Entorrhiza is a small fungal genus comprising 14 species that all cause galls on roots of Cyperaceae and Juncaceae. Although this genus was established 130 years ago, crucial questions on the phylogenetic relationships and biology of this enigmatic taxon are still unanswered. In order to infer a robust hypothesis about the phylogenetic position of Entorrhiza and to evaluate evolutionary trends, multiple gene sequences and morphological characteristics of Entorrhiza were analyzed and compared with respective findings in Fungi. In our comprehensive five-gene analyses Entorrhiza appeared as a highly supported monophyletic lineage representing the sister group to the rest of the Dikarya, a phylogenetic placement that received but moderate maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony bootstrap support. An alternative maximum likelihood tree with the constraint that Entorrhiza forms a monophyletic group with Basidiomycota could not be rejected. According to the first phylogenetic hypothesis, the teliospore tetrads of Entorrhiza represent the prototype of the dikaryan meiosporangium. The alternative hypothesis is supported by similarities in septal pore structure, cell wall and spindle pole bodies. Based on the isolated phylogenetic position of Entorrhiza and its peculiar combination of features related to ultrastructure and reproduction mode, we propose a new phylum Entorrhizomycota, for the genus Entorrhiza, which represents an apparently widespread group of inconspicuous fungi.
authors.affiliation: University of Tübingen, Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Auf der Morgenstelle 1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.affiliation: University of Tübingen, Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Auf der Morgenstelle 1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sigisfredo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garnica
authors.affiliation: University of Tübingen, Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Auf der Morgenstelle 1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oberwinkler
authors.affiliation: University of Tübingen, Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Auf der Morgenstelle 1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Riess
authors.affiliation: University of Tübingen, Department of Biology, Auf der Morgenstelle 1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany; Institute of Organismal Mycology and Microbiology, Vor dem Kreuzberg 17, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weiß
authors.affiliation: University of Bochum, AG Geobotanik, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Begerow
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal