Comparative and phylogenetic analyses using mitogenomes revealed gene re-arrangement of Boletaceae (Boletales)

<i>Boletaceae</i>, the largest family in the <i>Boletales</i> order, is an ecologically and economically important group and the phylogenetic studies of this group need to be further developed. The mitogenome is an effective molecular marker for analysing phylogenetic relationships; however, <i>Boletaceae</i> mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has been studied to a lesser extent. Thus, a comparative analysis of the mitogenomic features of seven <i>Boletaceae</i> species, representing seven distinct genera, was conducted. Phylogenetic relationships amongst these species within <i>Boletales</i> were reconstructed, based on the mitogenomic data. Highly consistent phylogenetic results within 34 <i>Boletales</i> species and two outgroups from <i>Polyporales</i>, based on mitogenomic datasets, were obtained using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference methods. Results of phylogenetic analyses revealed that <i>Boletus</i>, <i>Retiboletus</i> and <i>Neoboletus</i> were polyphyletic. Interestingly, species of <i>Neoboletus</i> with different bruising discolouration patterns were found in separate clades, suggesting this trait may reflect underlying genetic divergence. Furthermore, comparative and phylogenetic analyses revealed gene re-arrangements in mitogenomes of <i>Boletaceae</i>. This study is the first to report on complete mitogenomes of four genera (<i>Amoenoboletus</i>, <i>Hourangia</i>, <i>Leccinum</i> and <i>Strobilomyces</i>) and will help better understand the phylogenetic relationships of <i>Boletales</i>. Furthermore, addition of more new taxa is necessary to reconstruct a high-resolution tree.