Morphological, molecular and ecological aspects of the South American hypogeous fungus Alpova austroalnicola sp. nov

• Published in: Mycologia Vol. 97; no. 3; pp. 598 - 604
• Main Authors: Nouhra, Eduardo R., Domínguez, Laura S., Becerra, Alejandra G., Trappe, James M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.05.2005; Mycological Society of America
• Subjects: Alnus - microbiology; Alnus acuminata; Animals; Argentina; Armadillos - microbiology; Basidia; Basidiomycota - classification; Basidiomycota - cytology; Basidiomycota - genetics; Basidiomycota - isolation & purification; Biological taxonomies; Boletales; Boletus; Dasypus; Dasypus novemcinctus; DNA, Fungal - chemistry; DNA, Fungal - genetics; DNA, Ribosomal; Ecology; Ecosystem; Feces - microbiology; Fungal spores; Fungi; Hyalin; Hyphae; Microscopy; Molecular Sequence Data; molecular systematics; mycophagy; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Polymerase chain reaction; Rhizopogon; Ribosomal DNA; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S - genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Spores, Fungal; Suillus luteus; Taxa; Argentina
• ISSN: 0027-5514; 1557-2536
• DOI: 10.1080/15572536.2006.11832790

Field studies in Argentina's Yunga District revealed Alpova austroalnicola sp. nov., a hypogeous fungus associated with Alnus acuminata ssp. acuminata. Morphological and molecular studies based on amplification and sequencing of the nuclear LSU rDNA gene showed its unique identity within Alpova. Related genera included in the analyses were Boletus edulis, Rhizopogon spp., Suillus luteus and Truncocolumella citrina. Additional observations of animal diggings around the sites and microscopic examination of fecal pellets of the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus novemcinctus) indicate A. austroalnicola is consumed and its spores dispersed by animals.