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In the present study, we assembled and analyzed the mitogenomes of two Ramaria species. The assembled mitogenomes of Ramaria cfr. rubripermanens and R. rubella were circularized, with sizes of 126,497 bp and 143,271 bp, respectively. Comparative mitogenome analysis showed that intron region contributed the most (contribution rate, 43.74%) to the size variations of Ramaria mitogenomes. The genetic contents, gene length, tRNAs, and codon usages of the two Ramaria mitogenomes varied greatly. In addition, the evolutionary rates of different core protein coding genes (PCGs) in Phallomycetidae mitogenomes varied. We detected large-scale gene rearrangements between Phallomycetidae mitogenomes, including gene displacement and tRNA doubling. A total of 4499 bp and 7746 bp aligned fragments were detected between the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes of R. cfr. rubripermanens and R. rubella, respectively, indicating possible gene transferring events. We further found frequent intron loss/gain and potential intron transfer events in Phallomycetidae mitogenomes during the evolution, and the mitogenomes of R. rubella contained a novel intron P44. Phylogenetic analyses using both Bayesian inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) methods based on a combined mitochondrial gene dataset obtained an identical and well-supported phylogenetic tree for Basidiomycota, wherein R. cfr. rubripermanens and Turbinellus floccosus are sister species. This study served as the first report on mitogenomes from the genus Ramaria, which provides a basis for understanding the evolution, genetics, and taxonomy of this important fungal group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Itajahya is a member of Phallales (Agaricomycetes), which, based on the presence of a calyptra and DNA sequence data for I. rosea, has recently been raised to generic status from a subgenus of Phallus. The type species of the genus, I. galericulata, is commonly known as the Jacaranda stinkhorn in Pretoria, South Africa, which is the only area where the fungus is known outside the Americas. The common name is derived from its association with the South American originating Jacaranda mimosifolia trees in the city. The aim of this study was to consider the unusual occurrence of the fungus in South Africa, to place it on the available Phallales phylogeny and to test whether it merits generic status. Fresh basidiomes were collected during the summer of 2015 and sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses were based on sequence data for the nuc-LSU-rDNA (LSU) and ATPase subunit 6 (ATP6) regions. The results showed that I. rosea and I. galericulata are phylogenetically related. They are also clearly distinguished from other members of Phallales such as Phallus spp. and Dictyophora spp., and so our new data supports the raising of Itajahya to the generic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]