Molecular phylogenetic studies in the genus Amanita

A group of 49 Amanita species that had been thoroughly examined morphologic ally and anatomically was analyzed by DNA sequence comparison to estimate n atural groups and phylogenetic relationships within the genus. Nuclear DNA sequences coding for a part of the ribosomal large subunit were determined and evaluated using neighbor-joining with bootstrap analysis, parsimony ana lysis, conditional clustering, and maximum likelihood methods. Sections Ama nita, Caesarea, Vaginatae, Validae, Phalloideae, and Amidella were substant ially confirmed as monophyletic groups, while the monophyly of section Lepi della remained unclear. Branching topologies between and within sections co uld also partially be derived. Subgenera Amanita and Lepidella were not sup ported. The Mappae group was included in section Validae. Grouping hypothes es obtained by DNA analyses are discussed in relation to the distribution o f morphological and anatomical characters in the studied species.