PHYLOGENETIC PERSPECTIVES ON BASIDIOMYCETE SYSTEMATICS - EVIDENCE FROM THE 18S RIBOSOMAL-RNA GENE

Basidiomycete systematics has a history of dramatic change with the introduction of new forms of information. We present a new class level taxonomy for basidiomycetes consisting of the Urediniomycetes emend., Ustilaginomycetes, and Hymenomycetes. The primary source of characters for this analysis is the 18S rRNA gene. Other characters such as cellular carbohydrate composition, major ubiquinone system, 5S rRNA sequence, basidium morphology, and septum and spindle pole body ultrastructure are considered. Comparison of the new class system to other basidiomycete taxonomies is made. Use of 18S sequence to test the monophyly of an order is made in an examination of the Filobasidiales.