Joaquín Cifuentes

Global diversity and distribution of macrofungi

Data on macrofungal diversity and distribution patterns were compiled for major geographical regions of the world. Macrofungi are defined here to include ascomycetes and basidiomycetes with large, easily observed spore-bearing structures that form above or below ground. Each coauthor either provided data on a particular taxonomic group of macrofungi or information on the macrofungi of a specific geographic area. We then employed a meta-analysis to investigate species overlaps between areas, levels of endemism, centers of diversity, and estimated percent of species known for each taxonomic group for each geographic area and for the combined macrofungal data set. Thus, the study provides both a meta-analysis of current data and a gap assessment to help identify research needs. In all, 21,679 names of macrofungi were compiled. The percentage of unique names for each region ranged from 37% for temperate Asia to 72% for Australasia. Approximately 35,000 macrofungal species were estimated to be “unknown” by the contributing authors. This would give an estimated total of 56,679 macrofungi. Our compiled species list does not include data from most of S.E. Europe, Africa, western Asia, or tropical eastern Asia. Even so, combining our list of names with the estimates from contributing authors is in line with our calculated estimate of between 53,000 and 110,000 macrofungal species derived using plant/macrofungal species ratio data. The estimates developed in this study are consistent with a hypothesis of high overall fungal species diversity.

Understanding cultural significance, the edible mushrooms case

BackgroundCultural significance is a keystone in quantitative ethnobiology, which offers the possibility to make inferences about traditional nomenclature systems, use, appropriation and valuing of natural resources. In the present work, using as model the traditional mycological knowledge of Zapotecs from Oaxaca, Mexico, we analyze the cultural significance of wild edible resources.MethodsIn 2003 we applied 95 questionnaires to a random sample of informants. With this data we integrated the Edible Mushroom Cultural Significance Index. This index included eight variables: frequency of mention, perceived abundance, use frequency, taste, multifunctional food use, knowledge transmission, health and economy. Data were analyzed in an inductive perspective using ordination and grouping techniques to reveal the behavior of species in a cultural multivariate dimension.ResultsIn each variable the species had different conducts. Cantharellus cibarius s.l. was the species with most frequency of mention. Pleurotus sp. had the highest perceived abundance. C. cibarius s.l. was the most frequently consumed species. Gomphus clavatus was the most palatable species and also ranked highest in the multifunctional food index. Cortinarius secc.Malacii sp. had the highest traditional importance. Only Tricholoma magnivelare was identified as a health enhancer. It also had the most economic importance. According to the compound index, C. cibarius s.l., the Amanita caesarea complex, Ramaria spp. and Neolentinus lepideus were the mushrooms with highest cultural significance. Multivariate analysis showed that interviewees identify three main groups of mushrooms: species with high traditional values, frequent consumption and known by the majority; species that are less known, infrequently consumed and without salient characteristics; and species with low traditional values, with high economic value and health enhancers.ConclusionThe compound index divided the cultural significance into several cultural domains and showed the causes that underlie this phenomenon. This approach can be used in cross-cultural studies because it brings a list with the relative position of species among a cultural significance gradient. This list is suitable for comparisons and also it is flexible because cultural variables can be included or removed to adjust it to the nature of the different cultures or resources under study.

Disponibilidad de esporomas de hongos comestibles en los bosques de pino-encino de Ixtlán de Juárez, Oaxaca

espanolLos hongos comestibles son recursos forestales cuyo aprovechamiento sustentable depende del conocimiento de la distribucion y productividad de sus esporomas. En el presente trabajo se evaluo la disponibilidad de 81 hongos comestibles por medio de la abundancia, distribucion temporal y espacial de sus esporomas. Estas variables se integraron en un indice de importancia ecologica (VI) que brinda una medida para estimar la disponibilidad de sus esporomas en los bosques. El estudio se realizo durante 2001 y 2002 en los bosques de Pinus-Quercus de Ixtlan de Juarez, Oaxaca. Las especies mas abundantes fueron Laccaria laccata var. pallidifolia, Gymnopus confl uens y Laccaria vinaceobrunnea. La especie con mayor produccion de biomasa humeda de esporomas (2.21 Kg/sitio de muestreo) fue Laccaria laccata var. Pallidifolia. Solo G. confl uens y G. dryophilus produjeron esporomas desde principios de junio hasta fi nales de octubre. Las especies con mayor disponibilidad fueron L. laccata var. pallidifolia, G. confl uens, L. vinaceobrunnea y H. purpurascens. La riqueza de hongos comestibles silvestres en Ixtlan es alta (96 especies), pero su disponibilidad es muy heterogenea (de L. laccata var. pallidifolia VI = 0.7905, a Helvella infula VI = 0.0055). Dentro del mismo bosque, en sitios relativamente cercanos la composicion de especies es diferente y su produccion de esporomas y biomasa son contrastantes. EnglishWild edible mushrooms are non timber forest products whose sustainable use must have an ecological basis. In this work, we measured the availability of 81 edible mushrooms by means of their abundance, frequency, biomass production, temporal and spatial distribution of their fruiting bodies. These variables were integrated into an ecological importance index (IV) which describes sporome availability in the forest. The research was carried out during 2001 and 2002 in the Pinus-Quercus forests of Ixtlan de Juarez, Oaxaca. The most abundant species were Laccaria laccata var. pallidifolia, Gymnopus confl uens and Laccaria vinaceobrunnea. Laccaria laccata var. pallidifolia was the most productive species with an estimated total productivity of 2.21 Kg/sampling site. Only G. confl uens and G. dryophilus were observed in all sampling dates, from June to October. Species with the highest total availability were L. laccata var. pallidifolia, G. confl uens, L. vinaceobrunnea and H. purpurascens. In the communal property of Ixtlan, wild edible mushroom diversity is high (96 species); however, their availability is heterogeneous (from L. laccata var. pallidifolia IV = 0.7905, to Helvella infula IV = 0.0055). Within the forest, between sites relatively close to one another, species composition was different and their abundance and productivity were contrasting.

Evolutionary consequences of putative intra- and interspecific hybridization in agaric fungi

Agaric fungi of the southern Appalachian Mountains including Great Smoky Mountains National Park are often heterozygous for the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) with >42% of collections showing some heterozygosity for indels and/or base-pair substitutions. For these collections, intra-individual haplotype divergence is typically less than 2%, but for 3% of these collections intra-individual haplotype divergence exceeds that figure. We hypothesize that high intra-individual haplotype divergence is due to hybridization between agaric fungi with divergent haplotypes, possibly migrants from geographically isolated glacial refugia. Four species with relatively high haplotype divergence were examined: Armillaria mellea, Amanita citrina f. lavendula, Gymnopus dichrous and the Hygrocybe flavescens/chlorophana complex. The ITS region was sequenced, haplotypes of heterozygotes were resolved through cloning, and phylogenetic analyses were used to determine the outcome of hybridization events. Within Armillaria mellea and Amanita citrina f. lavendula, we found evidence of interbreeding and recombination. Within G. dichrous and H. flavescens/chlorophana, hybrids were identified but there was no evidence for F2 or higher progeny in natural populations suggesting that the hybrid fruitbodies might be an evolutionary dead end and that the genetically divergent Mendelian populations from which they were derived are, in fact, different species. The association between ITS haplotype divergence of less than 5% (Armillaria mellea = 2.6% excluding gaps; Amanita citrina f. lavendula = 3.3%) with the presence of putative recombinants and greater than 5% (Gymnopus dichrous = 5.7%; Hygrocybe flavescens/chlorophana = 14.1%) with apparent failure of F1 hybrids to produce F2 or higher progeny in populations may suggest a correlation between genetic distance and reproductive isolation.

Traditional infrageneric classification of Gymnopilus is not supported by ribosomal DNA sequence data

The traditional classification of Gymnopilus (Agaricales) recognizes two primary groups, Annulati and Gymnopilus, based on the presence or absence of a membranous partial veil. While our analyses of DNA sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal ITS1–5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) gene supports the monophyly of the genus, these traditional subgroups were not recovered. Five well-supported clades within the genus were identified through these analyses: 1) the spectabilis-imperialis group; 2) nevadensis-penetrans group; 3) a clade formed by G. underwoodii, G. validipes and G. cf. flavidellus; 4) aeruginosus-luteofolius group; and 5) lepidotus-subearlei group. Relationships among these subgroups were not resolved.

Two undescribed species of Phylloporia from Mexico based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence

Phylloporia rzedowskii and Phylloporia ulloai, both collected in tropical forests of the Sierra of the Huasteca Potosina, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, are described as new species. The main critical morphological features that characterize them are the pileus shape, the pore diameter, the basidiospores shape and size, and, possibly, their ecology, such as the host relationships (specificity/preference). Both species also form distinct clades in phylogenetic analysis based on partial DNA sequences data from the nuclear ribosomal LSU. An identification key for 10 species reported from the Americas is proposed.

Notes on mating systems of Auriscalpium vulgare and A. villipes

The geographical range of in vitro sexually compatible populations of Auriscalpium vulgare is extended to include Asia, Europe, western and eastern North America, and Central America. A. villipes , a neotropical species, shows a bifactorial mating system. The implications of these data on systematic placement and species concepts are discussed.

Russulaceae Associated with Mycoheterotroph Monotropa uniflora (Ericaceae) in Tlaxcala, Mexico: A Phylogenetic Approach

Abstract — The aim of this study was to explore the systematic position of the fungi associated with the roots of M. uniflora in two localities of Tlaxcala, Mexico, using a phylogenetic approach. Thirty plants were sampled, fifteen from a coniferous forest dominated by Abies religiosa in La Malinche National Park, and fifteen from a mixed conifer-broadleaf forest dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii in Sierra de Tlaxco. Our ITS analysis confirms the preference of M. uniflora to associate with Russulaceae, in particularly with Russula species. The roots of each plant were associated with a single fungal ITS sequence. They were analyzed phylogenetically by maximum likelihood, and were recovered in 12 moderate to well-supported clades within the genus Russula. In each of these clades only a single Russula species was associated with Monotropa in Mexico, except for clade Integrae for which two Mexican species were retrieved. A total of 13 Russula species were retrieved from the 30 Monotropa plants, four from La Malinche National Park, and 11 from Sierra de Tlaxco. Two species, R. aff. olivobrunnea and one unidentified species in subsection Lactarioideae, were shared among both localities. The Monotropa in the Abies forest of La Malinche National Park were dominated by a single species, R. aff. olivobrunnea, present in 11 of the 15 plants. In the Pseudotsuga forest of Sierra de Tlaxco, Monotropa was associated with a higher diversity of Russula, eleven species in total, seven of which were associated with a single plant, while the four other Russula had each been retrieved from two plants. Higher diversity of ectomycorrhizal host trees in the Sierra de Tlaxco site might possibly explain the higher richness of fungal associates as suggested by host association patterns of the involved species groups. This study brings the total number of Russula species that associate with Monotropa to forty-four. In the distribution area of Monotropoideae, nearly all terminal Russula clades (i.e. subsection level) that are involved in this mycoheterotroph association, equally harbor species that associate with mycoheterotroph orchids, whereas gasteromycetation appears to have exclusively evolved in clades that also harbor species developing mycoheterotroph associations.

Evaluation of the degree of mycophilia-mycophobia among highland and lowland inhabitants from Chiapas, Mexico

BackgroundMushrooms generate strong and contrasting feelings ranging from extreme aversion to intense liking. To categorize these attitudes, Wasson and Wasson coined the dichotomic terms “mycophilia” and “mycophobia” in 1957. In Mesoamerica these categories have been associated to ecological regions. Highland peoples are viewed as mycophiles, whereas lowland inhabitants are considered mycophobes. However, this division is based on little empirical evidence and few indicators. This study questioned whether mycophilia and mycophobia are indeed related to ecological regions through the evaluation of 19 indicators tested in the highlands and lowlands of Chiapas, Mexico.MethodsThe heterogeneity of attitudes toward mushrooms was explored in terms of ecological region and sociocultural variables. Information was obtained through structured interviews in 10 communities in Los Altos de Chiapas (highlands) and the Selva Lacandona (lowlands). We analyzed indicators separately through χ2 tests and multivariate techniques. The Mycophilia-Mycophobia Index was also used in the analysis. To assess which factors better explain the distribution of attitudes, we built 11 models using the Beta probability-density function and compared them with the Akaike Information Criterion.ResultsMost people had positive attitudes in both ecological regions. The classification and ordination analyses found two large groups comprising both highland and lowland towns. Contrary to expectation if mycophilia and mycophobia were mutually exclusive, all the fitted probability distributions were bell-shaped; indicating these attitudes behave as a continuous variable. The model best supported by data included occupation and ethnicity. Indigenous peasants had the highest degree of mycophilia.DiscussionResults suggest the studied populations tend to be mycophilic and that their attitudes are not dichotomic, but rather a gradient. Most people occupied intermediate degrees of mycophilia. Despite the remarkable similarity in the degree of mycophilia between ecological regions, the Principle-Coordinates Analysis shows differences in the specific way in which people from either region establishes a cultural relationship with mushrooms. The comparison of models suggests that sociocultural variables explains the differences better than ecological regions do. The obtained results are evidence of mycophilia among lowlands inhabitants in the Mayan region and of the fact that the mycophilia-mycophobia phenomenon is not expressed as a bimodal frequency distribution.ResumenIntroducciónLos hongos son capaces de generar sentimientos y emociones fuertes y contrastantes: aversiones extremas o aficiones intensas. Para categorizar a estas actitudes, Wasson y Wasson propusieron en 1957 los conceptos totalizadores y dicotómicos de micofilia y micofobia. En Mesoamérica esta separación se conceptualizó en función del piso ecológico, considerando a pueblos de tierras altas como micófilos y a los de tierras bajas como micófobos. Sin embargo, esta clasificación se ha realizado con base en escasa evidencia empírica y evaluando muy pocos indicadores. El presente estudio trata de probar la hipótesis de si las actitudes de micofilia y micofobia están relacionadas con el piso ecológico en que habitan las personas, a través de la evaluación de 19 indicadores en tierras altas y tierras bajas de Chiapas, México.MétodoSe exploró cómo se comporta la población y la heterogeneidad en sus actitudes hacia los hongos, así como el efecto del piso ecológico y variables socioculturales. Se analizaron los indicadores de manera separada a través de pruebas de χ2 y de técnicas multivariadas. Se propone el uso del Índice de Micofilia-Micofobia. Para evaluar qué factores explican mejor la distribución de las diferentes actitudes se construyeron 11 modelos usando la función de densidad de la probabilidad Beta y se compararon a través del Criterio de Información de Akaike.ResultadosLa mayoría de las personas tienen actitudes positivas en ambos pisos ecológicos. Los análisis de clasificación y ordenación mostraron dos grupos que incluyen poblados de ambos pisos, al contrario del Análisis de Coordenadas Principales que muestra una separación por piso ecológico. Contrario a lo esperado, el fenómeno de micofilia-micofobia no resulto ser mutuamente excluyente sino se ajustó a una distribución de probabilidad acampanada, es decir, mostrando a las actitudes como una variable continua. El modelo más robusto incluye la ocupación y la condición étnica siendo los campesinos indígenas los que tienen el máximo grado de micofilia.DiscusiónLos resultados sugieren que los pueblos estudiados tienden hacia la micofilia y no presentan una distribución de frecuencias dicotómica. Por el contrario, la mayoría de las personas tienen un grado intermedio de micofilia. Sin embargo, el análisis de Coordenadas Principales muestra que existen diferencias en la manera específica en que los habitantes de cada piso ecológico se relacionan con los hongos. La evidencia muestra que la micofilia es generalizada entre los pueblos mayas de tierras bajas y que el fenómeno de micofilia-micofobia no se expresa como una distribución de frecuencias bimodal.

Coltriciella sonorensis sp. nov. (Basidiomycota, Hymenochaetales) from Mexico: evidence from morphology and DNA sequence data.

Coltriciella sonorensis is described here as a new species from Mexico. It is characterized by pleuropodal, flabelliform basidiomes, rounded to elongated or daedaloid pores, a well-developed sub-hymenium, and oblong to cylindrical basidiospores, slightly attenuated towards the apex. The specimen was collected on soil in an open Quercus stand in mixed Quercus–tropical deciduous forest in the Sierra de Álamos–Río Cuchujaqui Biosphere Reserve, Sonora, Mexico. From a phylogenetic perspective, the species appears to be related to C. oblectabilis, also occurring in Mexico.