Multiple gene genealogies and species recognition in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus.
Author
Summary, in English
Paxillus involutus (basidiomycetes, Boletales) is a common ectomycorrhizal fungus in the Northern Hemisphere. The fungus displays significant variation in phenotypic characters related to morphology, physiology, and ecology. Previous studies have shown that P. involutus contains several intersterility groups and morphological species. In this study, we have used concordance of multiple gene genealogies to identify genetically isolated species of P. involutus. Fragments from five protein coding genes in 50 isolates of P. involutus collected from different hosts and environments in Europe and one location in Canada were analysed using phylogenetic methods. Concordance of the five gene genealogies showed that P. involutus comprises at least four distinct phylogenetic lineages: phylogenetic species I (with nine isolates), II (33 isolates), III (three isolates), and IV (five isolates). The branches separating the four species were long and well supported compared with the species internodes. A low level of shared polymorphisms was observed among the four lineages indicating a long time since the genetic isolation began. Three of the phylospecies corresponded to earlier identified morphological species: I to P. obscurosporus, II to P. involutus s. str., and III to P. validus. The phylogenetic species had an overlapping geographical distribution. Species I and II differed partly in habitat and host preferences.
Department/s
Publishing year
2008
Language
English
Pages
965-975
Publication/Series
Mycological Research
Volume
112
Issue
8
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Topic
- Biological Sciences
Keywords
- ITS sequences
- Cryptic species
- Boletales
- Mycorrhizas
- Phylogenetic species Species concepts
Status
Published
Research group
- Microbial Ecology
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0953-7562