An Examination of Molecular Phylogeny and Morphology of the Grass Endophyte Balansia claviceps and Similar Species

Abstract

A molecular and morphological study is made of several species of Balansia, including Balansia andropogonis, B. asclerotiaca, and B. asperata, that are often confused with Balansia claviceps, the type species of genus Balansia. Of these species, only B. claviceps is endophytic and possesses mounds of long receptive hyphae. Both morphology and rDNA data suggest that the collections currently recognized as B. claviceps consist of multiple sibling species. DNA data demonstrate the presence of two clades in Balansia, denominated by the B. claviceps and B. asperata clades. The distribution of species native to Asia and the Americas among these two subclades suggests the movement of species between Asia and the Americas.