A comprehensive phylogeny of Neurospora reveals a link between reproductive mode and molecular evolution in fungi

► Reproductive mode shifts has occured at multiple occasions within Neurospora. ► Reconstruction of ancestral reproductive mode is contradicted by biological evidence. ► Self-compatible taxa show a higher dN/dS than self-incompatible taxa. ► High substitution rate in self-incompatible taxa producing asexual spores. ► Lower substitution rate in the self-compatible taxa lacking asexual spores.