Structure of the mating-type locus in ambrosial and asexual Ceratocystidaceae species

Abstract

This dissertation is written in the form of three standalone articles of which the first is a review paper and the others are independent research articles. Some of the species included in this thesis are considered pests of economic importance in many areas they have invaded. Despite the importance of the family Ceratocystidaceae very little to nothing is known about the genetics of the mating systems as well as the mating strategies employed by species in Ambrosiella, Bretziella, Chalaropsis, Catunica, Davidsoniella, Meredithiella, Phialophoropsis, Toshionella and Wolfgangiella which constitute half the number of genera within this family. Overall, we were successful in identifying the MAT1-1-1, MAT1-1-2, MAT1-2-1 and MAT1-2-7 in these species. Phylogenetic analysis of the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 protein sequences from these species and related Sordariomycetes were also performed to corroborate the identification of the predicted MAT genes.