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The widespread species Parmotrema crinitum (Ach.) M. Choisy and Parmotrema perlatum (Huds.) M. Choisy are mainly distinguished by their reproductive strategies. While P. crinitum propagates by isidia, P. perlatum produces soredia. In this study, we aim to evaluate the phylogenetic relationship between both species and to critically examine their species boundaries. To this purpose, 46 samples belonging to P. crinitum and P. perlatum were used in our analysis, including 22 for which we studied the morphology and chemistry, before extracting their DNA. We used 35 sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS) of Parmotrema perlatum from Europe and Africa (20 of which were newly generated), and 11 of Parmotrema crinitum from Europe, North America and North Africa (two newly generated). Additionally, 28 sequences of several species from Parmotrema were included in the ITS dataset. The ITS data matrix was analyzed using different approaches, such as traditional phylogeny (maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses), genetic distances, automatic barcode gap discovery (ABGD) and the coalescent-based method poisson tree processes (PTP), in order to test congruence among results. Our results indicate that all samples referred to P. crinitum and P. perlatum nested in a well-supported monophyletic clade, but phylogenetic relationships among them remain unresolved. Delimitations inferred from PTP, ABGD and genetic distance analyses were comparable and suggested that P. crinitum and P. perlatum belong to the same lineage. Interestingly, two samples of P. perlatum separate in a different monophyletic clade, which is supported as a different lineage by all the analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical regions harbor rich biodiversity but are relatively poorly explored, especially in lesser known taxonomic groups, such as lichenized fungi. In addition, the identification of species is complicated by frequent occurrence of cryptic species and the plasticity of phenotypic features traditionally used to identify species. Here, we aim to explore species diversity and provide tools for accurate sample identification of the genus Parmotrema from rainforests in Thailand. We gathered a three-locus DNA sequence data set and this was analysed in phylogenetic and DNA barcode frameworks. While some morpho-species were recovered as monophyletic, others did not form monophyletic groups. Our study unmasked cryptic lineages in Parmotrema species distributed in the tropics and show that phenotype-based sample identification may underestimate species diversity in this group of lichens. Further, genetic distances based on ITS DNA sequences (i.e. DNA barcode approach) were shown to be a valuable tool for sample identification. In addition, our study highlights the need for taxonomic reexamination of the following phenotypically delimited species: P. corniculans, P. crinitum, P. haitiense, P. maclayanum, P. perlatum and P. subtinctorium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate specimen identification is challenging in groups with subtle or scarce taxonomically diagnostic characters, and the use of DNA barcodes can provide an effective means for consistent identification. Here, we investigate the utility of DNA barcode identification of species in a cosmopolitan genus of lichen-forming fungi, Parmelia (Parmeliaceae). Two hundred and two internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences generated from specimens collected from all continents, including Antarctica, were analysed, and DNA barcodes of 14 species of Parmelia s.s. are reported. Almost all species show a barcode gap. Overall, intraspecific divergence values were lower than the threshold previously established for Parmeliaceae. However, the mean and range were elevated by deep barcode divergences in three species, indicating the likely occurrence of overlooked specieslevel lineages. Here, we provide a DNA barcode reference library with well-identified specimens sampled worldwide and sequences from most of the type material to enable easy and fast accurate sample identification and to assist in uncovering overlooked species in Parmelia s.s. Further, our results confirm the efficiency of the ITS region in the identification of species of Parmelia s.s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]