Advances in Using Molecular Techniques for the Taxonomy of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes

Accurate identification and classification of fungi in Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes are crucial due to their significant roles in ecosystems, ranging from organic matter decomposition to symbiotic relationships with plants. Additionally, some fungi can cause diseases, thus, it is important to provide accurate identification to contribute to developing innovative solutions safeguarding human health and agricultural systems. However, Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes show considerable diversity in appearance, behavior, and ecological roles, posing challenges for traditional morphology-based identification, especially when dealing with cryptic or morphologically similar species. This misclassification hinders our understanding of fungal diversity and blocks progress in various fields. Molecular techniques utilizing DNA sequences as unique identifiers offer a promising solution, enabling differentiation of closely related fungal species often indistinguishable through microscopy. These molecular approaches not only reveal hidden diversity but also facilitate the exploration of intricate evolutionary relationships within fungal groups. Despite previous research, many questions regarding fungal species' relationships, adaptations, and evolution remain unanswered. Hence, it is crucial to continue discovering new fungal species, resolving ambiguities within specific fungal groups, and studying their interactions with other organisms.

This Research Topic welcomes effective review papers and high-quality research articles that delve into various aspects of fungal diversity, with a specific emphasis on taxonomy and phylogeny within Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes. Additionally, contributions related to fungal classification and nomenclature are highly encouraged. In cases involving the discovery of new taxa, research articles should aim to include more than four new taxa, and/or effective revisions addressing issues related to fungal classification, genetic diversity, geographical distribution, and their broader impact on the scientific community are also welcome.

Keywords: Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, Asexual-sexual morphs, Evolution, Fungi, Fungal pathogens, Morphology, Phylogeny

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.