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Molecular evolution and systematics

Characterization of Lactarius tesquorum ectomycorrhizae on Cistus sp. and molecular phylogeny of related European Lactarius taxa

     Ghent University, Department of Biology, Group Mycology, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

Andrea C. Rinaldi

     Cattedra di Chimica Biologica, Università di Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato Cagliari, Italy

Marco Leonardi
Giovanni Pacioni
Ornella Comandini ¹

     Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Università dell’Aquila, Via Vetoio Loc. Coppito, I-67100 L’Aquila, Italy

Lactarius is one of the larger genera of ectomycorrhizal Basidiomycota, with about 400 species recognized worldwide. The ectomycorrhizae formed by Lactarius tesquorum on Cistus sp., one of the most common and ecologically relevant shrubs in the semi-arid regions in the Mediterranean basin, are described here in terms of morphological, anatomical and molecular features. An ITS rDNA sequence-based phylogenetic analysis was performed on the related European Lactarius taxa (L. mairei, L. pubescens, L. scoticus, L. spinosulus, L. torminosulus and L. torminosus) currently classified together with L. tesquorum in the subgenus Piperites section Piperites. Piperites s.s. could be divided into two main clusters; L. mairei and especially L. spinosulus were related less closely to the other taxa. This study is part of a broader effort to extend our knowledge of the distribution, phylogeny and ectomycorrhizal biology of Lactarius species in selected ecosystems.

Key words: ectomycorrhizal fungi, ITS sequences, molecular phylogeny, Piperites, Russulales

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