Phylogenetic Relationships between Phlebiopsis gigantea and Selected Basidiomycota Species Inferred from Partial DNA Sequence of Elongation Factor 1-Alpha Gene

Abstract

Phlebiopsis gigantea (Fr.) Jülich has been successfully used as a biological control fungus for Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref., an important pathogen of pine and spruce trees. The P. gigantea species has been known for many years, but our understanding of the relationship between various isolates of this fungus has been substantially improved through the application of DNA sequence comparisons. In this study, relationships between P. gigantea and selected Basidiomycota species was determined, based on elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1α) partial DNA sequence and in silico data. A total of 12 isolates, representing the most representatives of P. gigantea, with diverse geographic distributions and hosts, were included in this study. Phylogenetic trees generated for sequences obtained in this research, grouped the European taxa of P. gigantea and partial sequence of the genome deposed in NCBI database, in a strongly supported clade, basal to the rest of the strains included in the study. P. gigantea isolates originating from Poland, Finland, Sweden, Great Britain and partial sequence of genome formed a monophyletic group. Within this group, isolates of P. gigantea constituted two subclades, showing their partial difference like the two SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) between one and the rest of isolates. The intron and exon relationships among P. gigantea isolates were moreover resolved. The results obtained using the EF1α region should be useful in the selection of more efficient P. gigantea isolates for limiting forest tree root pathogens.