ABSTRACT
The Ascomycota consisting almost 40% of known fungal species (ca. 80,000) is the largest phylum in the kingdom Fungi (Kirk et al. 2001). Within the Ascomycota the plectomycete species diversity is about 900 species accommodated in 90 genera, (including their related anamorphic species). Plectomycetes are of great importance for the following reasons: (a) they live in soil as saprophiles and decompose various substrates from sugar to cellulose and keratine, (b) useful in fermentation and related industries, (c) some of them cause mycosis or produce mycotoxins, and (d) the trichocomaceous species Aspergillus nidulans with an Emericella teleomorph is one of the model fungi for genetic studies and related disciplines. This chapter outlines the current status of plectomycete systematics, phylogeny, and evolution with emphasis on the economic importance of Aspergillus and Penicillium, and their related teleomorphs.
