Hypogeous fungi at tree line in the Australian Alps

The tree line of the continental Australian Alps yielded eighteen species of hypogeous fungi, all probably forming ectomycorrhizae with Eucalyptus niphophila, the tree species characteristic of that habitat. Six of the species were undescribed. These collections represented six families and twelve genera: Boletaceae (with Chamonixia), Gallaceaceae (Gallacea), Hysterangiaceae (Hysterangium), Cortinariaceae (Cortinarius, Dermocybe, Descomyces, Protoglossum, Setchelliogaster), Russulaceae (Cystangium, Gymnomyces, Zelleromyces) and Tricholomataceae (Hydnangium). A key to hypogeous fungi so far found at the Australian Alps tree line is presented

The hunted : commercially attractive truffles native to North America

Keywords: Tuber canaliculatum, Kalapuya brunnea, yellow-furrowed truffle, Oregon white truffles, Oregon black truffles, Pecan or Texas truffle, Leucangium carthusianum, Oregon brown truffles, Tuber gibbosum complex, giant Imaia, Imaia gigantea, Truffle harvesting, Tuber lyonii comple

Kalapuya brunnea gen. & sp. nov. and its relationship to the other sequestrate genera in Morchellaceae

Kalapuya is described as a new, monotypic truffle genus in the Morchellaceae known only from the Pacific northwestern United States. Its relationship to other hypogeous genera within Morchellaceae is explored by phylogenetic analysis of the ribosomal LSU and EF1α protein coding region. The type species, K. brunnea, occurs in Douglas-fir forests up to about 50 y old on the west slope of the Cascade Range in Oregon and in the Coastal Ranges of Oregon and northern California. It has a roughened, warty, reddish brown to brown peridium, a solid whitish gleba that develops grayish brown mottling as the spores mature, and produces a cheesy-garlicky odor at maturity. Its smooth, ellipsoid spores resemble those of Morchella spp. but are much larger. The four hypogeous genera known in the Morchellaceae, Kalapuya, Fischerula, Imaia and Leucangium, are distinct from the epigeous genera Morchella and Verpa, but it is uncertain whether they resulted from a single transition to a hypogeous fruiting habit or from multiple independent transitions. Kalapuya, locally known as the Oregon brown truffle, has been commercially harvested for culinary use.Keywords: LSU rDNA, taxonomy, Pezizales, EF1α, Douglas-fir, Ascomycota, Fischerula, Morchellaceae, Leucangium, hypogeous fungus, truffl

Morphological, molecular and ecological aspects of the south american hypogeous fungus, Alpova austroalnicola sp. nov.

Field studies in Argentina’s Yunga District revealed Alpova austroalnicola sp. nov., a hypogeous fungus associated with Alnus acuminata ssp. acuminata. Morphological and molecular studies based on amplification and sequencing of the nuclear LSU rDNA gene showed its unique identity within Alpova. Related genera included in the analyses were Boletus edulis, Rhizopogon spp., Suillus luteus and Truncocolumella citrina. Additional observations of animal diggings around the sites and microscopic examination of fecal pellets of the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus novemcinctus) indicate A. austroalnicola is consumed and its spores dispersed by animals. Key words: Alnus acuminata, Boletales, Dasypus, molecular systematics, mycophagy, phylogenyFil: Nouhra, Eduardo Ramon. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Dominguez, Laura Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Becerra, Alejandra Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Trappe, James M.. State University of Oregon; Estados Unido

Calongea, un nuevo género de trufas en las Pezizaceae (Pezizales)

Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS and LSU rDNA of Pachyphloeus species from Europe and North America revealed a new truffle genus. These molecular analyses plus sequences downloaded from a BLAST search in GenBank indicated that Pachyphloeus prieguensis is within the Pezizaceae but well outside of the genus Pachyphloeus. Morphological differences in the peridial and glebal hyphae and spores distinguish this genus from Pachyphloeus. We here propose the monotypic new genus Calongea, with the type species C. prieguensis comb. nov., in honor of Prof. Francisco de Diego Calonge, who has long studied the truffle fungi of Spain and participated in describing the type species of Calongea.El análisis filogenético del ITS y LSU rDNA de especies europeas y norteamericanas de Pachyphloeus revelan un género nuevo de trufa. Los datos moleculares de este estudio, además de las secuencias obtenidas de una búsqueda BLAST en GenBank, indican que Pachyphloeus prieguensis es un miembro de la familia Pezizaceae pero no está relacionado con ninguna otra especie hipogea o epigea de dicha familia. Encontramos diferencias morfológicas en las hifas del peridio y gleba así como en las esporas que morfológicamente distinguen éste de Pachyphloeus. Proponemos el nuevo género monotípico Calongea, con C. prieguensis comb. nov. como la especie tipo, en honor a uno de los descubridores originales, Prof. Francisco de Diego Calonge

Australasian Sequestrate Fungi 19: Hysterangium colossum sp. nov.

Hysterangium colossum sp. nov, with extraordinarily large basidiomata for the genus, is described from dry Eucalyptus woodlands in the Australian Capital Territory and southeastern New South Wales. It typically grows in confluent clusters and has a thick peridium often invaginated into the gleba

Animal-fungal interactions 2: First report of mycophagy by the Eastern European Hedgehog, Erinaceus concolor Martin, 1837 (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Erinaceidae)

Mycophagy (fungivory) performs numerous important ecosystem functions for fungi, plants, and animals. Fungi serve as food for diverse mammals, ranging from bears, Ursus spp., to shrews, Sorex spp. However, among the many mammals reported to eat fungi, hedgehogs and other insectivores have been poorly studied. Based on microscopic examination of a fecal sample collected from an Eastern European Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) near Ula-MuÄŸla, Turkey, we provide the first confirmed evidence of mycophagy by hedgehogs and review the literature on hedgehog mycophagy

Fungal-small mammal interrelationships with emphasis on Oregon coniferous forests

Most higher plants have evolved with an obligatory symbiotic relationship with my corrhizal fungi. Epigeous mycorrhiza formers have their spores dispersed by air currents, but hypogeous mycorrhizal fungi are dependent upon small mammals as primary vectors of spore dissemination. Mammalian mycophagists defecate within the coniferous forest ecosystem, spreading the viable spores necessary for survival and health of the conifers. As one unravels and begins to understand the interrelationships between small—mammal mycophagists and mycorrhizal fungi, it becomes apparent that the various roles of small mammals in the coniferous forest ecosystem need to be reeevalutaed. One can no longer accept such simplistic solutions to timber management as poisoning forests rodents to "enhance" tree survival. One must consider the direct as well as the indirect costs and benefits of timber management decisions if one is to maintain balanced, healthy coniferous forests.Keywords: higher plants, small-mammal mycophagy, obligatory symbiotic relationships, spore dispersal, hypogeous fungi, vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae, ectomycorrhizae, rodent die

The enigmatic truffle Fevansia aurantiaca is an ectomycorrhizal member of the Albatrellus lineage

Fevansia aurantiaca is an orange-colored truffle that has been collected infrequently in the Pacific Northwest of the USA. This sequestrate, hypogeous fungus was originally thought to be related to the genera Rhizopogon or Alpova in the Boletales, but the large, inflated cells in the trama and the very pale spore mass easily segregated it from these genera. To date, no molecular phylogenetic studies have determined its closest relatives. F. aurantiaca was originally discovered in leaf litter beneath Pinaceae, leading Trappe and Castellano (Mycotaxon 75:153–179, 2000) to suggest that it is an ectomycorrhizal symbiont of various members of the Pinaceae. However, without direct ecological or phylogenetic data, it is impossible to confirm the trophic mode of this truffle species. In this study, we combined phylogenetic analysis of the ITS and 28S ribosomal DNA with data on microscopic morphology to determine that F. aurantiaca is a member of the Albatrellus ectomycorrhizal lineage (Albatrellaceae, Russulales).Keywords: Albatrellaceae, Russulales, Albatrellus, Sequestrate fungi, Truffles, Ectomycorrhiz