Phylogenetic diversity of Moroccan cork oak woodlands fungi

Interspecific variation among 87 sporocarps of fungi belonging to 15 genera and 39 species were evaluated by analyzing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the rDNA region using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The ITS region was first amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers and then cleaved with different restriction enzymes. Amplification products, which ranged between 500 and 950 base pairs (bp), were obtained for all the isolates analyzed. The degree of polymorphism observed did not allow proper identification of most of the species. Cleavage of amplified fragments with the restriction enzymes Alu I, EcoR I and Hinf I revealed extensive polymorphism. The fifteen genera and most species presented specific restriction patterns. The only species not identifiable by a specific pattern belonged to the genera Russula (R. decipiens and R. straminea). These species might be considered as closely related species. The Pisolithus sporocarps had two ITS-RFLP types with one dominating. ITS sequencing confirms that the two RFLP types correspond to two distinct species of Pisolithus. Our data show the potential of ITS region PCR-RFLP for the molecular characterization of ectomycorrhizal fungi and their identification and monitoring in artificial inoculation programs

Molecular phylogeny of Pisolithus species from Moroccan forest woodlands

The phylogenetic relationships among 200 Pisolithus basidiomata collected from pine, oak, and eucalypt forests and rockrose scrubs in Morocco were investigated. Using PCR-RFLP analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA, this collection could be divided into 5 groups, by using PCR-RFLP analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA. The ITS of a representative basidioma of each group was sequenced, and a phylogenetic analysis was performed. The dendrogram suggests that at least five Pisolithus species are present in Morocco. Pisolithus basidiomata collected in the Pinus and Quercus forests correspond to Pisolithus arrhizus and P. species 4 as previously described by Martin and colleagues in 2002. Those collected from the eucalyptus forests, under E. gomphocephala and E. camaldulensis, correspond to P. albus and P. microcarpus. Basidiomata collected from the rockrose scrubs, under Cistus crispus, C. monspeliensis or C. salviifolius, are all identified as Pisolithus species 3. Phylogenetic analyses showed that our different Pisolithus grouped well with Pisolithus specimens from other geographical origins

Impact du mode de gestion de la subéraie de la Maamora (Maroc) sur la diversité des champignons ectomycorhiziens associés à Quercus suber

The cork oak forest is an ecosystem playing a major role in Moroccan socio-economy and biodiversity conservation. However, this ecosystem is negatively impacted by extensive human-and climate-driven pressures, causing a strong decrease in its distribution and a worsening of the desertification processes. This study aims at characterising the impact of cork oak forest management on a major actor of its functioning, the ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal community associated with Quercus suber, and the determination of EcM bio-indicators. The EcM fungal community has been monitored during spring and winter seasons in two sites of the Moroccan Maamora forest, corresponding to a forest site either impacted by human activities or protected. A significant impact of cork oak forest management on the EcM fungal community has been revealed, with major differences during the summer season. The results confirmed the potential ecological significance of several EcM fungi (e.g., Cenococcum) in the sustainability of the cork oak forest functioning, but also the significant association of certain EcM fungi (Pachyphloeus, Russula, Tomentella) with a perturbation or a season, and consequently to the cork oak forest status or to climatic conditions, respectively. The development of study at the Mediterranean scale may improve the robustness of ecological models to predict the impact of global changes on this emblematic ecosystem of Mediterranean basin