Historical biogeography and diversification of truffles in the Tuberaceae and their newly identified southern hemisphere sister lineage.

ABSTRACT: Truffles have evolved from epigeous (aboveground) ancestors in nearly every major lineage of fleshy fungi. Because accelerated rates of morphological evolution accompany the transition to the truffle form, closely related epigeous ancestors remain unknown for most truffle lineages. This is the case for the quintessential truffle genus Tuber, which includes species with socio-economic importance and esteemed culinary attributes. Ecologically, Tuber spp. form obligate mycorrhizal symbioses with diverse species of plant hosts including pines, oaks, poplars, orchids, and commercially important trees such as hazelnut and pecan. Unfortunately, limited geographic sampling and inconclusive phylogenetic relationships have obscured our understanding of their origin, biogeography, and diversification

SUBMITTER: Bonito G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3534693 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature