Fungi in Thailand: A Case Study of the Efficacy of an ITS Barcode for Automatically Identifying Species within the Annulohypoxylon and Hypoxylon Genera

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054529
• Publication Date: 2013-02-04T21:58:26Z
• Authors: Nuttika Suwannasai; María P. Martín; Cherdchai Phosri; Prakitsin Sihanonth; Anthony J. S. Wha...; John L. Spouge
• Keywords: Barcode; DNA Barcoding; Identification; Species complex; Taxonomic rank

Thailand, a part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, has many endemic animals and plants. Some its fungal species are difficult to recognize separate, complicating assessments biodiversity. We assessed diversity within genera Annulohypoxylon Hypoxylon, which produce biologically active potentially therapeutic compounds, by applying classical taxonomic methods 552 teleomorphs collected from across Thailand. Using probability correct identification (PCI), we also efficacy automated with barcode marker, ITS, in model system Hypoxylon. The yielded 137 ITS sequences; addition, examined 128 GenBank sequences, assess biases evaluating DNA data. use multiple sequence alignment database like BOLD raises some concerns about non-protein markers so compared using different methods. Our results suggest following. (1) Multiple sequences is competitive pairwise when identifying species, should be able preserve present bioinformatics workflow for possibly therefore at least other markers. (2) Automated insensitive specific choice evolutionary distance, contributing resolution current debate barcoding. (3) Statistical available address, partially, possibility expert misidentification species. Phylogenetic trees discovered cryptic strongly supported monophyletic clades Hypoxylon suggesting that can contribute usefully these fungi. PCIs here, derived solely will require secondary however. URL http://tinyurl.com/spouge-barcode contains computer programs supplementary material relevant this article.