PHYLOGENETIC STUDIES IN PENIOPHORA

Phylogenetic relationships in Peniophora were investigated using ITS s equences from nuclear rDNA. The result was compared with parsimony ana lysis based on morphological characters, and a traditional classificat ion based on basidiome morphology. Sixty-four specimens belonging to 2 4 species in Peniophora were sequenced. In particular, ITS2 sequences gave a good resolution in phylogenetic analyses and 3 distinct clades were distinguished. Intraspecific variation was constantly low in ITSZ , and rarely exceeded 2%. In ITS1, the variation in Certain species wa s considerable and hence most confidence was placed on the results fro m ITSZ. Intercompatibility tests were done for the representatives of each taxon. In some species, intersterility had been found between rep resentatives regarded as conspecific on morphological criteria. Such s ibling species were not separated from each other in ITS2 sequences.