Biogeographical patterns in Artomyces pyxidatus

Artomyces pyxidatus (Auriscalpiaceae) is a lignicolous, coralloid basidiomycete found throughout temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Previous studies established that populations from the eastern United States, Sweden, and China were conspecific based on mating compatibility and enzyme profiles. In this study, mating compatibility was extended to include collections from Russia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Utah. The molecular diversity of A. pyxidatus was examined by DNA sequence and restriction site analyses of the nuclear ribosomal internally transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2). A phylogenetic analysis of twelve isolates based on ITS sequences revealed a broad geographical pattern in which Eurasian isolates comprise a sister clade to North American isolates. North American isolates appear to be further subdivided into northeastern and southwestern clades. A survey of 255 A. pyxidatus isolates using restriction enzymes revealed variable RFLP patterns that follow similar geographical patterns.