Phylogenetic analysiccccccccc of the genus Stemphylium based on elongation factor -1 alpha and calmodulin gene squences

The importance and diversity of the genus Stemphylium highlights the need for accurate identification of species. However, many Stemphylium isolates have been misidentified due to the use of spore size as the only identifying character. Molecular phylogenetic analyses were performed on fifty-four isolates covering 9 Stemphylium species collected in Korea. Phylogenetic analysis of the translation elongation factor -1 alpha (EF-1) and the calmodulin gene sequence data showed that Stemphylium species were segregated into seven distinct groups, most of w hichcorrelated with species identified by morphology. Analysis of EF-1 in particular was useful for establishing well- supported relationships among the species of Stemphylium.