Molecular variations in Lenzites species collected from Nigeria and other parts of the world using Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) regions of Ribosomal RNA

The phylogeny of six specimens of Lenzites species collected from Akure Nigeria was studied using molecular data obtained by sequencing the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) regions of ribosomal RNA using universal primers (ITS4 and ITS5). Preliminary basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) revealed the identity of the specimens from Akure as Lenzites species. The percentage relationship between rRNA gene sequences of Lenzites species from Akure and Lenzites species sequences in NCBI GenBank database showed 99 to 100 similarity. Phylogenetic tree generated using MEGA 4 software strongly supported Lenzites clade that includes most Lenzites species together with species of Trametes and Daedalea which are considered as synonyms of Lenzites species. The rRNA gene sequences of three of the Lenzites species designated specimens 1, 3 and 6 were in the same clade with most of the Lenzites species collected from NCBI GenBank. Generally, specimens 1 to 6 form a monophyletic group with Lenzites species collected from other parts of the world. The results revealed the relationship of Lenzites species collected from Nigeria with Lenzites species with other parts of the world.