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A phylogenetic study of the genus Haligena (Halosphaeriales, Ascomycota)

     Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, 113 Thailand Science Park, Paholyothin Road, Khlong 1, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand

Ka-Lai Pang

     Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, King Henry Building, King Henry I Street, Portsmouth, PO1 2DY, UK

Souwalak Phongpaichit

     Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand

E.B. Gareth Jones

     National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, 113 Thailand Science Park, Paholyothin Road, Khlong 1, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand

The genus Haligena (Halosphaeriales, Ascomycota), with two accepted species, is encountered frequently in marine habitats, especially on wood in temperate regions. Phylogenetic analyses of Haligena elaterophora (type species) and H. salina were undertaken, with partial large subunit ribosomal DNA sequences, to determine their relationships with other closely related genera in the order. The genus was shown to be polyphyletic within the Halosphaeriales with the type species forming a basal clade to the order. Haligena salina constituted a sister clade with weak support of Neptunella longirostris in all analyses. Haligena elaterophora and H. salina differ significantly in the nature of their ascospore appendages: wider, more sticky and strap-like in H. elaterophora and spoon-shaped at the point of attachment; in H. salina they are longer and narrower, finely drawn out filaments. A new genus, Morakotiella, is introduced to accommodate H. salina.

Key words: Halosphaeriales, LSU rDNA, molecular systematics, Morakotiella