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Large-scale phylogenomic insights into the evolution of the Hymenochaetales

Summary

This study examined the evolutionary history of over 1,200 species of wood-decomposing and disease-causing fungi called Hymenochaetales using genetic analysis of 171 fungal genomes. The researchers found that these fungi likely originated in temperate regions of Asia during the age of dinosaurs and gradually spread worldwide, changing their physical forms as they diversified. The research provides important insights into how major groups of fungi evolved and adapted over millions of years.

Background

The Hymenochaetales is an order of wood-inhabiting fungi with high phylogenetic complexity and morphological diversity. Species in this order play important roles in forest ecosystems as wood decomposers, pathogens, and ectomycorrhizal associates. However, limited knowledge exists regarding large-scale evolutionary patterns of the order.

Objective

This study aimed to reconstruct phylogenomic relationships, divergence times, biogeographic patterns, morphological evolution, and speciation/extinction patterns in the Hymenochaetales using 171 genomes including 113 newly assembled sequences.

Results

Phylogenomic analysis accepted 10 families and rejected 2 families of Hymenochaetales. Molecular clock dating indicated family-wide radiation during early Cretaceous to late Jurassic and genus-wide radiation during Cretaceous. The order likely originated in temperate Asia with a corticioid ancestor that rapidly transformed, and showed gradually increasing trends in speciation, extinction, and net diversification rates.

Conclusion

This large-scale genomic study provided robust phylogenetic relationships for Hymenochaetales and revealed that the order originated in temperate Asia during the Cretaceous-Jurassic boundary with rapid morphological transformation. The findings advance understanding of fungal evolution and provide a solid foundation for future studies of this ecologically important group.
  • Published in:Mycology,
  • Study Type:Phylogenomic Analysis,
  • Source: 10.1080/21501203.2024.2391527, PMID: 40415915
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