Phylogenetic relationships and new records of Asterinaceae (Dothideomycetes) from Panama

Asterinaceae are small obligately biotrophic pathogens growing superficially on living leaves of higher plants in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The species-rich but rarely studied ascomycete group has an uncertain placement within the Dothideomycetes because molecular data are missing completely up to now. Based on nuclear DNA from fresh material of five Asterina spp. and a related anamorphic stage from Panama, we present the first molecular phylogenetic hypothesis of the Asterinaceae within the Dothideomycetes. A combined SSU and LSU rDNA phylogenetic analysis shows that species of Asterina and its anamorphs form a well supported monophyletic clade within the Dothideomycetes with Venturiaceae as sistergroup. Three Asterina spp. included in the molecular study are new records for Panama and Central America with new records of host plant species: A. cestricola on Cestrum rugulosum (Solanaceae), A. weinmanniae on Weinmannia pinnata (Cunoniaceae) and A. zanthoxyli on Zanthoxylum scheryi (Rutaceae). A. cestricola and A. weinmanniae are illustrated here for the first time.