Species delimitation in taxonomically difficult fungi: the case of Hymenogaster.

ABSTRACT:

Background

False truffles are ecologically important as mycorrhizal partners of trees and evolutionarily highly interesting as the result of a shift from epigeous mushroom-like to underground fruiting bodies. Since its first description by Vittadini in 1831, inappropriate species concepts in the highly diverse false truffle genus Hymenogaster has led to continued confusion, caused by a large variety of prevailing taxonomical opinions.

Methodology

In this study, we reconsidered the species delimitations in Hymenogaster based on a comprehensive collection of Central European taxa comprising more than 140 fruiting bodies from 20 years of field work. The ITS rDNA sequence dataset was subjected to phylogenetic analysis as well as clustering optimization using OPTSIL software.

SUBMITTER: Stielow B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3027480 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature