Otidea subterranea sp. nov.: Otidea goes below ground

Evidence suggests that truffle-like sporocarp forms have evolved many times in the Pezizales, but primarily from epigeous ancestors within ectomycorrhizal clades. There are several ectomycorrhizal clades, however, that contain no known hypogeous species. We collected specimens of an unusual unidentified truffle from mixed oak woodlands in Iowa. Although clearly a member of the Pezizales (Ascomycota), this hypogeous species did not belong to any of the described truffle genera. Based on a combination of ecological, phylogenetic, and morphological evidence we determined that this new truffle is a hypogeous member of the genus Otidea (Pyronemataceae), a lineage with no described truffle species. We describe it here as a new species, Otidea subterranea.     

Phylogeny and historical biogeography of true morels (Morchella) reveals an early Cretaceous origin and high continental endemism and provincialism in the Holarctic

True morels (Morchella, Ascomycota) are arguably the most highly-prized of the estimated 1.5 million fungi that inhabit our planet. Field guides treat these epicurean macrofungi as belonging to a few species with cosmopolitan distributions, but this hypothesis has not been tested. Prompted by the results of a growing number of molecular studies, which have shown many microbes exhibit strong biogeographic structure and cryptic speciation, we constructed a 4-gene dataset for 177 members of the Morchellaceae to elucidate their origin, evolutionary diversification and historical biogeography. Diversification time estimates place the origin of the Morchellaceae in the middle Triassic 243.63 (95% highest posterior density [HPD] interval: 169.35-319.89) million years ago (Mya) and the divergence of Morchella from its closest relatives in the early Cretaceous 129.61 (95% HPD interval: 90.26-173.16) Mya, both within western North America. Phylogenetic analyses identified three lineages within Morchella: a basal monotypic lineage represented by Morchella rufobrunnea, and two sister clades comprising the black morels (Elata Clade, 26 species) and yellow morels (Esculenta Clade, 16 species). Morchella possesses a Laurasian distribution with 37/41 species restricted to the Holarctic. All 33 Holarctic species represented by multiple collections exhibited continental endemism. Moreover, 16/18 North American and 13/15 Eurasian species appeared to exhibit provincialism. Although morel fruit bodies produce thousands of explosively discharged spores that are well suited to aerial dispersal, our results suggest that they are poorly adapted at invading novel niches. Morels also appear to have retained the ancestral fruit body plan, which has remained remarkably static since the Cretaceous.     

The interrelationship of mycophagous small mammals and ectomycorrhizal fungi in primeval, disturbed and managed Central European mountainous forests

Small forest dwelling mammals are considered to be major consumers and vectors of hypogeous ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, which have lost the ability of active spore discharge. Fungal spore dispersal by mycophagy is deemed an important process involved in forest regeneration, resilience and vitality, primarily based on evidence from Australia and the Pacific Northwestern USA, but is poorly known for Central European mountainous forests thus far. Small mammal mycophagy was investigated by live trapping and microscopical analysis of faecal samples. All small mammal species recorded (Myodes glareolus, Microtus agrestis, Pitymys subterraneus, Apodemus spp., Glis glis, Sorex spp.) had ingested spores of ECM fungi, albeit in varying amounts. My. glareolus was found to be the most important vector of ECM fungal spores, both in quantity and diversity. Species of the genus Sorex seem to play a hitherto underestimated role as dispersers of fungal spores. Glis glis is likely to be an important vector owing to its large home range. Hypogeous ECM basidiomycetes accounted for most spores found in the faecal samples. The frequency of various genera of hypogeous ECM ascomycetes and ECM epigeous fungi was much lower. Comparison with null models indicated a non-random structure of the mycophagy network similar to other mutualistic bipartite networks. Mycophagy can be considered (1) to contribute to nutrition of small forest mammals, (2) to play a pivotal role for forest regeneration and functioning by providing mycorrhizal inoculum to tree seedlings and (3) to be vital for reproduction and diversity of the still poorly known hypogeous fungi.     

Mycophagy by invasive wild boar (Sus scrofa) facilitates dispersal of native and introduced mycorrhizal fungi in Patagonia,Argentina

Fleshy hypogeous fungi produce scents that enable mycophagous mammals and invertebrates to locate them and disperse their spores. The European wild boar (Sus scrofa) was introduced in central Argentina in 1900s and later expanded into Patagonia. Here, we determined the diversity and abundance of fungal taxa, and the frequency of hypogeous fungal spores in wild boar feces in Patagonia. We collected fecal samples on Isla Victoria, Nahuel Huapi National Park, and identified fungi using microscope and DNA metabarcoding of ITS2 rDNA. Hypogeous fungal spores occurred in almost all fecal samples. The most abundant species belonged to the genera Hysterangium, Melanogaster, Radiigera and Gautieria. In addition to the symbiotrophic hypogeous taxa, we also identified numerous pathotrophic and saprotrophic taxa. Not only diverse native hypogeous fungi, but also introduced ones are part of the diet of the wild boar in forests of Patagonia. If viable, introduced fungi are being dispersed as far as 2.5 km from the nearest plantation, highlighting how the introduced wild boar might alter the local distribution and composition of fungal communities.     

Polymorphism in morels: isozyme electrophoretic analysis

The aim of this study was to assess whether isozyme polymorphism in different members of the Morchellaceae could be used to improve the systematics in this fungal group and to characterize intraspecific crossings between monosporal strains in Morchella esculenta. For this purpose, isozyme electrophoretic analysis of the following enzymes was performed: glutamine synthetase, NAD-glutamate dehydrogenase, NADP-glutamate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, malate dehydrogenase, NAD-glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase, glucose phosphate isomerase, and superoxide dismutase. The analyses allowed discrimination at the inter- or intra-specific levels and could help to establish a method of identification for strains in the Morchellaceae. To a certain extent they appeared to be suitable to analyze interactions of monosporal strains of Morchella esculenta in pairing experiments. The polymorphism shown in this study was consistent with the phylogenetic relationships between the investigated strains only at the genus level.Key words: isozyme analysis, electrophoresis, Morchella sp., polymorphism.     

块菌名实考证及其资源保护

块菌是指Tuber属的真菌种类,属于子囊菌门(Ascomycota),生在地下,其中包含着世界上最美味和价值最昂贵的食用菌.中国食与药用真菌文化悠久,历代本草都不乏各种菌类的记载,但在本草中记载的与块菌有关系的菌类唯有1245年陈仁玉编撰的“菌谱”中称之为“麦蕈”和俗名为“麦丹蕈”的一种地下真菌.日本本草对“麦蕈”也屡有记载,并把“麦蕈”叫“地肾”和“松露”.这是“松露”一名的最早记载,“麦蕈”或“松露”可能是被现代菌物学称之为须腹菌(Rhizopogon spp.)的真菌种类.因而,“松露”一名虽是汉字,但是所指并非真正的块菌,应是须腹菌(Rhizopogon spp.),也称“假块菌”(false truffle),所以松露和块菌寓意各异.产于我国西南地区的食用黑块菌主要是印度块菌(Tuber indi-cum)或中华块菌(T.sinernse)、夏块菌(T.aestivum=T.uncinatu)和拟喜马拉雅块菌(T.pseudohimalayense=T.pseudoexcavatum),近年来身价倍增,成为中国野生食用菌出口种类中名列前三甲的菌类,在世界块菌市场上也颇受欢迎.喜马拉雅块菌(T.himalayense)在我国尚未发现它的踪迹.印度块菌和中华块菌形态上有差异,若把中国产的类似黑孢块菌的黑块菌统称为印度块菌(T.indicum)尚值得商榷.中华块菌或印度块菌形态和遗传变异多样,尚需进一步研究.2010年在云南和四川相继发现的大型香味浓郁的白块菌,近似于波氏块菌(T.borchii)组的块菌,颇具研究和巨大的商业价值,表明我国块菌资源比原有记载的要丰富的多.由于利益之驱动和疏于管理,掠夺式的采收方法造成了块菌产区生态环境毁灭性的破坏,一些商业化采集区的块菌已濒临灭绝,中国西南地区的块菌资源的保护问题迫在眉睫.本文对产自欧洲、美洲的块菌、沙漠块菌,以及块菌的生态意义和种植作了简要介绍和讨论.     

Linking mycorrhizas to sporocarps: a new species, Geopora cercocarpi, on Cercocarpus ledifolius (Rosaceae)

Mycorrhizal assemblages characterized by molecular data frequently differ from collections of mycorrhizal sporocarps at the same site. Geopora species are frequent mycobionts of ectomycorrhizal roots, but except for G. cooperi they are rarely identified to species by molecular methods. Among the mycobionts of ectomycorrhizas with Cercocarpus ledifolius (Rosaceae) was a fungal species with a 91% BLAST match to G. arenicola. To determine the species of Geopora we surveyed for hypogeous sporocarps under C. ledifolius at sites in southern Oregon where the Geopora mycorrhizas had been collected and identified by DNA sequences of the ITS region. We found sporocarps of a Geopora species with 100% BLAST match to the mycorrhizas. Morphological characters of a white hymenium, inrolled entire margin and large spores, along with a hypogeous habit and a mycorrhizal host of C. ledifolius, distinguished these specimens from previously described species. Here we describe a new species, Geopora cercocarpi.     

The enigmatic truffle Fevansia aurantiaca is an ectomycorrhizal member of the Albatrellus lineage

Fevansia aurantiaca is an orange-colored truffle that has been collected infrequently in the Pacific Northwest of the USA. This sequestrate, hypogeous fungus was originally thought to be related to the genera Rhizopogon or Alpova in the Boletales, but the large, inflated cells in the trama and the very pale spore mass easily segregated it from these genera. To date, no molecular phylogenetic studies have determined its closest relatives. F. aurantiaca was originally discovered in leaf litter beneath Pinaceae, leading Trappe and Castellano (Mycotaxon 75:153–179, 2000) to suggest that it is an ectomycorrhizal symbiont of various members of the Pinaceae. However, without direct ecological or phylogenetic data, it is impossible to confirm the trophic mode of this truffle species. In this study, we combined phylogenetic analysis of the ITS and 28S ribosomal DNA with data on microscopic morphology to determine that F. aurantiaca is a member of the Albatrellus ectomycorrhizal lineage (Albatrellaceae, Russulales).     

Drivers of truffle biomass,community composition,and richness among forest types in the northeastern US

Truffle-producing fungi (hypogeous sporocarps) are important mycorrhizal symbionts and provide a key food source for many animals, including small mammals. To better understand truffle diversity and associations in the northeastern US, we surveyed for truffles and analyzed spores in eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) scat across hardwood (angiosperm-dominated), softwood (gymnosperm-dominated), and mixed forest at Bartlett Experimental Forest, New Hampshire. Truffle biomass ranged from 3.8 kg/ha in hardwood forest to 31.4 kg/ha in softwood forest and was up to 35 times greater than mushroom (epigeous sporocarp) production in softwood forest. Elaphomyces species were the most common truffle taxa in both field surveys and chipmunk scat. Scat analysis indicated that truffle richness increased over the summer and accurately reflected fruiting time, providing greater resolution of richness than field surveys alone. Basal area of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) was the primary driver of Elaphomyces biomass and was the best explanatory variable of truffle community composition. We discuss implications of hemlock loss, due to the introduced hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), on forest mycorrhizal communities and food webs.     

Otospora bareai, a new fungal species in the Glomeromycetes from a dolomitic shrub land in Sierra de Baza National Park (Granada, Spain)

A new fungal species of the Glomeromycetes was isolated from the rhizosphere of Pterocephalus spathulatus and Thymus granatensis, two rare endemic plants growing on dolomite in the Sierra de Baza (Granada, southern Spain). The fungus was propagated in pot cultures of Sorghum vulgare and Trifolium pratense for 4 y and it is described here on the basis of the spores found in nature and formed in pot cultures. Its brown spores (140-210 microm diam) form laterally on a persistent, brown stalk (=neck) of a sporiferous saccule. They have two walls without ornamentation: a brown, three- to four-layered outer wall and a hyaline two- to three-layered inner wall. The unique combination of spore formation and spore wall structure does not fit with any of the known fungal genera. Spore formation is similar to that of Acaulospora spp. and Archaeospora trappei, but Acaulospora spp. has three spore walls with a characteristic "beaded" wall, and the outer wall of Ar. trappei is simple, thin, hyaline and only bilayered. Spore wall structure of the new fungus is similar to that of Entrophospora infrequens, however this fungus forms its spores internally, inside the hyphal stalk of the sporiferous saccule. Molecular analyses of the small subunit of the ribosomal gene phylogenetically place the new fungus next to Diversispora spurca, which forms one-walled glomoid spores (i.e. terminally on hyphae). Based on these analyses we place the new fungus into a new genus in the family Diversisporaceae under the epithet Otospora bareai.     

Fungus diversity in revegetated paddocks compared with remnant woodland in a south‐eastern Australian agricultural landscape

Summary Despite the importance of fungi for restoration, their presence in revegetated sites has received little attention. We compared the diversity and composition of macrofungi (i.e. those that form fleshy mushrooms and truffles) in 12 sites where 3‐to‐6‐year‐old native trees and shrubs had been planted (woodland restoration sites), with that in six woodland remnants. All sites were within an agricultural landscape near Holbrook in New South Wales. Of 58 fungal genera recorded, 57% occurred in woodland restoration sites and 83% in nearby patches of remnant woodland. Of the genera found in restoration sites, 70% were also found in the woodland remnants. The dominance of early successional genera such as Lacceria and Scleroderma in restoration sites suggests windblown colonisation by fungi. The reduced proportion of hypogeous genera (truffles) that rely on mammal vectors, which are less likely to occur in the restoration sites, also supports the view that most fungi occurred in restoration through colonisation rather than being generated from soil spores. Greatest overall fungal diversity occurred in large remnants that had greater structural complexity. Across all sites, epigeous genera (mushrooms) were most common (78% of all taxa collected across 46 genera) and of the nutritional modes, mycorrhizal genera (forming symbiotic associations with plants) were the most common (206 collections, 71%, 25 genera). Both hypogeous and mycorrhizal fungi were positively associated with the diversity of native forb species (wildflowers), suggesting that lower fungal diversity in restoration sites is likely to be a consequence of long‐term agricultural practices, particularly fertilizer use.     

Molecular phylogeny of truffles (Pezizales: Terfeziaceae, Tuberaceae) derived from nuclear rDNA sequence analysis.

Extensive morphological convergence or divergence, a common occurrence in fungi, tends to obscure recognition of phylogenetic relationships among Pezizales, widespread filamentous Ascomycetes with either enclosed underground (hypogeous) or exposed (epigeous) fruit bodies, that often establish mutualistic interactions with arboreous plants. Focusing on hypogeous Pezizales commonly known as truffles, we sequenced the 18S rDNA from nine species belonging to three different families (Tuberaceae, Terfeziaceae, and Balsamiaceae). A data set consisting of 1700 secondary structure-aligned sites, including 24 homologous sequences from the GenBank DNA database and using three reconstruction methods, was employed to infer phylogenies in an interval ranging from the subordinal to the subgeneric level. As revealed by the 18S phylogenetic scheme, Balsamiaceae represent a monophyletic clade, comprising the hypogeous taxa Balsamia and Barssia, nested within Helvellaceae. Similarly, the terfeziacean genera Pachyphloeus and Terfezia constitute together with Cazia a distinct hypogeous clade nested within Pezizaceae. The lack of clustering between Terfezia arenaria and Terfezia terfezioides strongly supports the reassignment of the latter taxon to the original monotypic genus Mattirolomyces. Within Tuberaceae, which are sister to the highly evolved Helvellaceae, the genus Tuber cannot be considered monophyletic if Choiromyces is recognized. The paraphyly of Tuber and other relationships that were not supported by high bootstrap values, nor corroborated by morphological evidence, were supported by a parallel analysis of the faster evolving internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA. Distinct episodes of fruit body morphology shifts are discernable in the 18S rDNA phylogenetic tree. In all cases, the shift from an epigeous to a hypogeous form is the most parsimonious interpretation of character transformation, without any instance of character reversal.     

Diets of native and introduced tree squirrels in Washington

Competition for food resources can be a primary mechanism for displacement of native species by introduced species. Investigation of dietary partitioning between potential competitors and spatiotemporal variability in food resources can reveal contested food items and intensity of competition. Introduced eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) have been implicated as competitors with western gray squirrels (S. griseus) and Douglas’ squirrels (Tamiasciurus douglasii), but little is known about interactions among these species. We collected foraging observations and fecal pellets of sympatric gray and Douglas’ squirrels trapped and radio-tracked in western Washington, USA, from 2007 to 2012. We compared food resources consumed across species, seasons, and years to evaluate dietary overlap and the potential for competitive interactions. All squirrel species ate hypogeous fungi throughout all seasons; spores of several genera were present in 272 of 275 fecal samples and observed in all months. Rhizopogon, Geopora, and Melanogaster spp. occurred in most fecal pellets for all squirrels, but the diet of the Douglas’ squirrels had slightly lower richness of hypogeous fungi than gray squirrels. Although foraging observations suggest that eastern and western gray squirrels shared important dietary items such as acorns, strong differences in consumption of seeds of a common conifer may facilitate their coexistence. Our results suggest that dietary overlap among arboreal squirrels could lead to competitive interactions during periods of food scarcity, but subtle differences may be sufficient to permit long-term coexistence. Tree squirrels in Washington would likely benefit from forest management practices that promote or sustain robust crops of hypogeous fungi. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.     

Records of hypogeous mycorrhizal fungi in the diet of some Western Australian bolboceratine beetles (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae, Bolboceratinae)

In order to assess the possible contribution of bolboceratine beetles to the dispersal of mycorrhizal fungal spores, faeces and/or gut contents of adults of several species and genera obtained from burrows or collected at lights at night were examined microscopically. Two species of Blackbolbus ( frontalis and fucinus ) were found to have fed on different species of hypogeous sporocarps (truffles). Furthermore, adults of Bbo. frontalis were found in burrows with truffles of the genera Amarrendia , Hysterangium and Scleroderma . Specimens of some Blackburnium , Bolboleaus and Bolborhachium species, on the other hand, were found to have ingested diffuse glomeralean mycelium and spores along with varying quantities of soil. Limited evidence of broad-scale distribution of spores was obtained. Some Scleroderma truffles found in burrows of Bbo. frontalis were honeycombed and inhabited by numerous nitidulid beetles identified as Thalycrodes mixta . Two truffles identified as Hysterangium found in soil close to a burrow of Bbo. frontalis were infested with nematodes.     

Genea mexicana, sp. nov., and Geopora tolucana, sp. nov., new hypogeous Pyronemataceae from Mexico, and the taxonomy of Geopora reevaluated

Two new species of hypogeous Pezizales in the Pyronemataceae are described from montane cloud forests in Mexico. Genea mexicana can be recognised by ITS sequence analysis and its distinct spore and seta dimensions; Geopora tolucana by ITS sequence analysis and its light brown hymenium, broadly ellipsoid ascospores and host preference. It belongs to the group of Geopora cooperi Harkn., which appears to be a rather heterogeneous assemblage, comprising a number of cryptic species. Our results indicate that the genus Geopora is non-monophyletic, occurring in two distinct phylogenetic clusters comprising species with either epigeous apothecial or hypogeous ptychothecial ascomata. Moreover, molecular divergence of Geopora is much higher than that of the neighbouring genera. Accordingly, we propose to reassign the cupulate apothecial Geopora species to the genus Sepultaria.     

Bacterial and fungal communities associated with Tuber magnatum‐productive niches

Abstract

Truffles are hypogeous ectomycorrhizal fungi of ecological interest for forestry in soils of the northern hemisphere, and of economical relevance for food markets worldwide. The molecular mechanisms that control truffle body formation are largely unknown, as well as the environmental factors that are likely involved. Among the latter, it has been hypothesized that soil‐borne communities may have an impact on truffle production. To address this question, we investigated bacterial and fungal communities resident in productive versus adjacent non‐productive grounds of the white truffle Tuber magnatum by using PCR‐DGGE. Although bacterial communities were generally highly similar across all samples within the grounds, profiles did cluster according to the productivity of circumscribed niches, and a Moraxella osloensis population appeared to be associated with productive sites. Fungal communities revealed several populations, yet showed no obvious patterns in relation to productivity, although Mortierella and Fusarium oxysporum appeared to be more abundant in the productive area. Our results offer a first glimpse into microbial communities thriving in truffle productive niches, and open the question as to whether microbe‐mediated mechanisms may facilitate/inhibit truffle fruiting‐body production or, vice versa, i.e. whether truffle sporocarps have an impact on the microbes living in the rhizosphere.     

Diversity of ectomycorrhizal Thelephoraceae in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tuber melanosporum</Emphasis>-cultivated orchards of Northern Spain

Truffles are edible hypogeous ascomycetes highly appreciated worldwide, especially the black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.). In recent decades, the cultivation of the black truffle has expanded across the Mediterranean climate regions in and outside its native range. Members of the Thelephoraceae (Thelephorales, Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota) are commonly found in truffle plantations, but their co-occurrence with Tuber species and other members of the fungal community has been scarcely reported. Thelephoraceae is one of the most represented families of the ectomycorrhizal fungal community in boreal and Mediterranean forests. To reveal the diversity of these fungi in T. melanosporum-cultivated plantations, ten orchards located in the Navarra region (Northern Spain) were surveyed for 2 years. Morphological and molecular approaches were used to detect and identify the Thelephoraceae ectomycorrhizas present in those plantations. Ten different mycorrhizal types were detected and described. Four of them were morphologically identified as Tomentella galzinii, Quercirhiza cumulosa, Q. squamosa, and T39 Thelephoraceae type. Molecular analyses revealed 4–6 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), depending on the nucleotide database used, but similarities remained under 95 % and no clear species assignments could be done. The results confirm the diversity and abundance of this fungal family in the ectomycorrhizal community of black truffle plantations, generally established in Mediterranean areas. The occurrence and relative abundance of Thelephoraceae ectomycorrhizas is discussed in relation to their possible influence on truffle production.     

Molecular phylogeny of the mycorrhizal desert truffles (Terfezia and Tirmania), host specificity and edaphic tolerance

Terfezia and Tirmania, so called desert truffles, are mycorrhizal fungi mostly endemic to arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean Region, where they are associated with Helianthemum species. The aim of this work was to study the phylogenetic relationships in these pezizalean hypogeous fungi. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and DNA sequences of internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of the nuclear rDNA were studied for several morphological species, Terfezia arenaria, T. boudieri, T. claveryi, T. leptoderma, T. terfezioides (=Mattirolomyces terfezioides), Tirmania nivea and T. pinoyi. The sequences were analyzed with distance and parsimony methods. Phylogenetic analyses indicated a close genetic relationship between Tirmania and Terfezia. They may have arisen from a single evolutionary lineage of pezizalean fungi that developed the hypogeous habit as an adaptation to heat and drought in Mediterranean ecosystems. This analysis also supports the re-establishment of the genus Mattirolomyces. The genera Tirmania and Terfezia were monophyletic, and morphological species corresponded to phylogenetic species. The Tirmania clade comprises desert truffles with smooth spores and amyloid asci, which were found in deserts. The Terfezia clade grouped species found in semi-arid habitats having ornamented and spherical spores. These species are adapted to exploit different types of soil (either acid or basic soils) in association with specific hosts (either basophilous or acidophilous species). Although other factors might also play a role, host specialization and edaphic tolerances (fungus and/or host tolerances) might be the key in the species diversity of these genera.     

Comparison of Chemical Composition in Tuber aestivum Vittad. of Different Geographical Origin

Truffles are prized and nutrition‐rich edible hypogeous fungi. The aim of this study was a comprehensive investigation of chemical composition of Burgundy truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad .). We tried to answer the question: what is the impact of the environment on the truffle quality. To know the nutritional value of Burgundy truffle we compared lipids, proteins, saccharides, polyphenolics, flavonoids, total sterols, ergosterol, volatile flavour and aroma compounds content in fruit bodies of the fungus collected in three different geographical regions, i.e., Poland, Slovakia, and Italy. A comparison of the above mentioned compounds is especially interesting due to environmental and climatic differences among the studied geographical regions. Results revealed that fruit bodies of T. aestivum from Poland and Slovakia possessed nearly similar content of proteins, total sterols, and saccharides. The fruiting bodies from Italy contained significantly larger amounts of most of the investigated compounds. In turn, Polish specimens had higher content of lipids and polyphenolics than Slovak and Italian ones. We have found higher similarity of volatile compounds composition between Polish and Italian specimens than those of Polish and Slovak origin.     

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

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.