Andreas Bresinsky

Derivation of a polymorphic lineage of Gasteromycetes from boletoid ancestors

The phylogeny of selected gasteromycetes and hymenomycetes was inferred from partial nuclear large subunit rDNA (nuc-lsu, 28S) sequences, delimited by primers LR0R and LR5. Taxon sampling with emphasis on relationships within the Boletales further included some gasteroid groups, which obviously have evolved convergent fruiting body morphology, and therefore remained controversial in taxonomy. This study confirms the close relationship of Geastrales, Gauteriales and Phallales and the presumable derivation of Nidulariales and Tulostomatales within the euagarics clade, as widely accepted. In addition, four Hymenogaster species investigated were found to be in the euagarics clade and a relationship to the Cortinariaceae was indicated. The gasteroid fungus Zelleromyces stephensii is an example for maintaining morphological linkage by a lactiferous hyphal system to the genus Lactarius in the Russulales, and this relationship was affirmed in the sequence analysis. Several previously suggested relationships of gasteromycetes and Boletales were reproducible by analyzing nuc-lsu sequences. As a new result, Astraeus hygrometricus, the barometer earth star, is an additional representative of the Boletales. Together with Boletinellus, Phlebopus, Pisolithus, Calostoma, Gyroporus, Scleroderma, and Veligaster, Astraeus forms an unusual group comprising pileate-stipitate hymenomycetes and polymorphic gasteromycetes. This group is a major lineage within the Boletales and we propose the new suborder Sclerodermatineae, including the six families Boletinellaceae fam. nov. (Boletinellus and Phlebopus), Gyroporaceae (Singer) fam. nov. (Gyroporus), Pisolithaceae (Pisolithus), Astraeaceae (Astraeus), Calostomataceae (Calostoma), and the typus subordinis Sclerodermataceae (Scleroderma and Veligaster). Morphological and ecological characters, and pigment synthesis support the delimitation of the Sclerodermatineae, and indicate the radiation of different lineages in the Boletales originating from fungi with primitive tubular hymenophores. We regard such boletes with gyroid-boletinoid hymenophores, like Boletinellus, Gyrodon, Gyroporus, Paragyrodon and Phlebopus as key taxa in the evolution of Paxillineae, Sclerodermatineae and Boletineae.

Speciation in "Pleurotus"

The gradual genetic isolation which precedes speciation can be readily observed in the genus Pleurotus. Strains of P. ostreatus originating from different parts of the world and growing on differen...

Retiboletus, a new genus for a species-complex in the Boletaceae producing retipolides

Boletus ornatipes and B. retipes are two closely related species in North America, which cannot be differentiated by morphological and anatomical characters. The 25S rDNA was partly sequenced from several isolates of B. ornatipes, B. retipes, and allied species in the Boletaceae to aid identification. The phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood suggests that both species are differently distributed. In addition, our results are supported by a previous study of Hellwig (1999), separating three groups in the B. retipes/ornatipes -complex based on chemotaxonomical characters. Retipolides form the major pigments in presently analyzed B. ornatipes and B. retipes collections and are also detected in B. flavoniger. This group of secondary metabolites is unique in the Boletales (for distribution of pigments in Boletales see Gill & Steglich 1987) and is characteristic of the new genus Retiboletus, in which B. ornatipes (type), B. retipes, and B. flavoniger are placed. A positive proof of retipolides is still missing in B. griseus and Tylopilus nigerrimus. Both species are transferred to Retiboletus according to morphological characters and sequence data. Retiboletus, eine neue Gattung fur einen Arten-Komplex mit Retipoliden innerhalb der Boletaceae Boletus ornatipes und B. retipes sind zwei nahe verwandte Arten in Nordamerika, die durch morphologische und anatomische Merkmale nicht unterschieden werden konnen. Ein Teil der 25S rDNA mehrerer Isolate von B. ornatipes, B. retipes und verwandten Arten wurde sequenziert, um die Identifizierung zu unterstutzen. Die phylogenetische Analyse unter Verwendung von Maximum Likelihood weist auf eine unterschiedliche geographische Verbreitung beider Arten hin. Zusatzlich werden unsere Ergebnisse durch eine vorhergehende Studie von Hellwig (1999) unterstutzt, in der chemotaxonomische Merkmale zur Abgrenzung dreier Gruppen im B. retipes/ornatipes -Komplex verwendet werden. Retipolide bilden die Hauptpigmente in bisher untersuchten Aufsammlungen von B. ornatipes und B. retipes und konnen daruber hinaus in B. flavoniger nachgewiesen werden. Diese Gruppe von Sekundarmetaboliten ist einzigartig innerhalb der Boletales (zur Verbreitung von Pigmenten in Boletales siehe Gill & Steglich 1987) und fuhrt zur Etablierung der neuen Gattung Retiboletus, in die B. ornatipes (Typus), B. retipes und B. flavoniger gestellt werden. Ein positiver Nachweis auf Retipolide ist bisher noch ausstehend fur B. griseus und Tylopilus nigerrimus. Beide Arten werden aufgrund morphologischer Merkmale und sequenzanalytischer Daten zu Retiboletus gestellt. Die Gattung Retiboletus wird in der vorliegenden Studie neu beschrieben. Boletus ornatipes, B. retipes, B. flavoniger, B. griseus und Tylopilus nigerrimus werden in dieseneu etablierte Gattung Retiboletus gestellt und die hierbei notwendigen Neukombinationen durchgefuhrt.

Phylogenetic relationships of Agaricus species based on ITS-2 and 28S ribosomal DNA sequences

Parsimony and maximum likelihood anal- yses of sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) region plus a portion of the 28S gene are used to study the phylogenetic relationships of Agaricus species. The ingroup contained 16 Agaricus species, selected from the range of sections con- tained in the subgenus Agaricus. A total of eight out- groups were chosen from the Agaricaceae and phy- logenetic trees rooted on Stropharia coronilla. Results suggest that Agaricus may be monophyletic, but fur- ther tests should include taxa from the subgenera Langagaricus and Conioagaricus. Two well-supported clades were found. The Agaricus clade contained A. subperonatus, A. devoniensis, A. bisporus, A. spissicau- lis, A. bitorquis, and A. impudicus. Results suggest that A. bernardii may be closely related to this group. The Arvenses clade contained A. silvicola, A. arvensis, A. abruptibulbus, and A. semotus. A possible sister group to the Arvenses clade includes A. lanipes and A. mas- kae. Relationships for A. campestris, A. silvaticus and A. xanthoderma remain unclear, although it is likely these species diverged early compared with the other Agaricus species studied. Phylogenetic hypotheses are given for taxa that have been difficult to classify based on other forms of data, including the placement of A. spissicaulis with A. bisporus; A. lanipes with A. mas- kae, and Melanophyllum haematospermum with Leucoa- garicus naucinus.

Chemosystematics ofSuillaceae andGomphidiaceae (suborderSuillineae)

The chemotaxonomic findings relating to the generaBoletinus, Suillus, Gastroboletus, Gomphidius, andChroogomphus are summarized and discussed, using published data as well as our own hitherto unpublished evidence of pigments and chromogens. The study confirms repeatedly made claims that these genera are closely related. In addition to the presence of pigments which are typical for most members of theBoletales (e.g., pulvinic acid derivatives, terphenyl quinones, cyclopentenones), prenylated phenols and quinones can also be constantly detected here (with the exception ofBoletinus), just as inRhizopogon. Accordingly,Suillus is more closely related to theGomphidiaceae andRhizopogonaceae than to the remaining boletes. It is therefore necessary to establish a new family (Suillaceae which includeBoletinus, Suillus, andGastrosuillus) and a new suborder (Suillineae which includeSuillaceae, Gomphidiaceae, andRhizopogonaceae) within theBoletales.

Phellinus torulosus: Sexuality and evidence of intersterility groups

A unifactorial pattern of sexuality was documented for 13 stocks of Phellinus torulosus. Incompatibility was indicated by a line of demarcation between the paired isolates; compatible pairings resulted in the formation of heterokaryotic secondary mycelium in the contact zone. Bullers phenomenon was not observed between paired heterokaryons and homokaryons. Both heterokaryons and homokaryons are without clamps and with binucleate hyphal segments. They can be distinguished as follows: 1) Fruiting only appears in heterokaryotic cultures; homokaryons never fruit. 2) Pairing of heterokaryons with other mycelia always results in the formation of a line of demarcation. 3) Nuclei with a DNA content of ln, 2n and 4n can be found in heterokaryons; only In and 2n nuclei in homokaryons. 4) Growth of mycelium is slightly faster in heterokaryons as compared to homokaryons. Two partially intersterile groups of P. torulosus are documented by pairing tests and ontogeny of secondary mycelia. One group consists of collections from Europe, mainly from the Mediterranean. The second group is restricted to the Canary Islands. No significant differences between the groups were noted in any cytological character or any macro- or micromorphological character examined. Fruiting was distinctly more common and faster in secondary mycelia derived from intragroup pairings as compared to secondary mycelia from intergroup pairings. No obvious substrate preferences were noted for P. torulosus. The taxon apparently occurs both as a parasite and a saprobe.

Cytofluorometric determination of relative DNA content in nuclei of Coniophoraceae (Boletales) using DAPI

Thirteen species of Coniophoraceae belonging to Coniophora, Jaapia, Leucogyrophana and Serpula have been examined for their relative content of DNA by means of cytofluorometry using DAPI staining. Three different levels of ploidy and the phenomenon of endopolyploidy are discussed.

Omphalotaceae fam. nov. und Paxillaceae, ein chemotaxonomischer Vergleich zweier Pilzfamilien der Boletales

TheOmphalotaceae fam. nov., which include the generaOmphalotus andLampteromyces, are defined on the basis of characteristic sesquiterpenes and of their ability to cause white-rot. Anatomical and morphological features of the representatives of these genera support the creation of this new family. The occurrence of pigments, typical of theBoletales, and of cyanophilous spores, indicate membership of theOmphalotaceae in the orderBoletales. Relationships to the other families of this order — especially to thePaxillaceae — are discussed. The possible functional significance of fungal metabolites is considered.

Nitratreduktion durch pilze und die verwertbarkeit des merkmals für die systematik

Abstract Nearly 200 species of fungi of various orders has been assayed for presence of nitrate reductase by examining the presence of nitrite in the culture medium. This property seems to be useful for identification purposes in the same way as the widely used Bavendamm-test for extracellular oxidases. A literature survey has also been made of fungi assimilating nitrate-nitrogen and those unable to grow with nitrate as sole source of nitrogen. The data in this paper show that there is a good correlation between the ability to reduce nitrate and the assimilation of nitrate-nitrogen. Most of the Deuteromycetes (14 out of 17 investigated) reduce nitrate, whereas the Basidiomycetes (135 species investigated) generally lack this property, except for few taxa like Lepista (Tricholomataceae; Agaricales). A correlation between nitrate reduction and ecological requirements was shown only for Deuteromycetes, where the pathogenic Dermatophytes do not use nitrate-nitrogen and the nematode trapping Arthrobotrys dactyloides is unable to reduce nitrate.

Soil fungi and other microorganisms

During the discussion about recent forest decline, it is often argued that biotic factors may be involved in several different ways: 1. An epidemic attack by highly virulent parasites such as viruses, bacteria or fungi. Such an attack could lead to reductions in growth and finally, extinction of formerly healthy stands. 2. An attack by less virulent parasites following previous damage (e.g., by pollutants); 3. Damage to symbiotic organisms, especially mycorrhizal fungi, which contribute to growth under undisturbed conditions.