Unexpected richness and distinct patterns of <i>Morchella</i> (<i>Ascomycota</i>) species diversity in Chongqing, a notable "Furnace City": unveiling rich diversity in hot regions.

ABSTRACT: Morchella species, commonly known as true morels and being cold-preferring fungi, are esteemed for their distinctive flavor as well as significant economic and prominent research value. Chongqing, located in southwestern China and renowned as the "Furnace City" due to its distinctive climate and extremely high summer temperatures, spans an area of 82,400 square kilometers with complex geographical topography, yet has lacked a comprehensive survey of true morels (Morchella) so far. From 2017 to 2024, we conducted extensive field surveys across 13 districts and counties within Chongqing, resulting in the collection of over 1,000 wild morel samples. Through a combination of multi-gene phylogenetic analysis and microscopic morphological observations, we uncovered a surprisingly h

SUBMITTER: Qin Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12365677 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature