Mycoheterotrophic plants are considered to associate very specifically with fungi. Mycoheterotrophic orchids are mostly associated with ectomycorrhizal fungi in temperate regions, or with saprobes or parasites in tropical regions. Although most mycoheterotrophic orchids occur in the tropics, few studies have been devoted to them, and the main conclusions about their specificity have hitherto been drawn from their association with ectomycorrhizal fungi in temperate regions.

Applying early names, with or without original material, to genealogical species is challenging. For morels this task is especially difficult because of high morphological stasis and high plasticity of apothecium color and shape. Here we propose a nomenclatural revision of true morels (Morchella, Pezizales) from Europe and North America, based on molecular phylogenetic analyses of portions of the genes for RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1) and second largest subunit (RPB2), translation elongation factor-1α (TEF1), the nuc rDNA region encompassing the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2, along with the 5.8S rDNA (ITS), and partial nuc 28S rDNA D1-D2 domains (28S). The 107 newly sequenced collections were from both continents, including 48 types, together with previously published sequences. Names are applied to 30 of the 65 currently recognized genealogical species. Results of the present study revealed that the number of Morchella species in Europe (n = 21) is nearly identical to that in North Ame...

Millions of hectares of Quercus ilex forests dominate disturbed landscapes in the western part of the Mediterranean basin. Although these forests are very widespread, little is known about the composition and structure of their associated ectomycorrhizal fungal communities. We examined seasonal patterns in ectomycorrhizal communities and their response to increased drought using a rainfall exclusion experiment established in a Q. ilex coppice since 2003. Ectomycorrhizae were sampled four times in 2007–2009. By sequencing fungal ITS, we identified 129 species in 1,147 sequenced ectomycorrhizal root tips. The fungal community in the surface organic horizon was well described by the logseries theoretical model, with 47.9% of singleton species. The composition of the community was strongly dominated by Basidiomycetes, with three families (Thelephoraceae, Russulaceae and Cortinariaceae) accounting for 72.9% of the root tips. Relative abundance of Russulaceae and Thelephoraceae showed pronounced seasonal shifts. Experimental reduction of rainfall resulted in significant shifts in community composition and seasonal fluctuations but had no effect on global richness of the community. Together, these results suggest that the predicted rainfall reduction in this region due to climate change will lead to shifts in species composition in ectomycorrhizal communities.

Positive plant–plant interaction is a widespread phenomenon, especially in harsh environments, which can contribute to secondary successions. Here, w

Fusions between individuals are a common feature of organisms with modular, indeterminate life forms, including plants, marine invertebrates and fungi. The consequences of fusion for an individual fungus are poorly understood. We used wild-type and fusion mutant strains of the genetic model Neurospora crassa to chronicle the fitness in two different laboratory habitats, and in each experiment started colonies from multiple different densities of asexual spores. On round Petri dishes, fusion enabled wild-type colonies to grow larger than mutant ( soft ) colonies; but in linear ‘race tubes’, the soft mutant always grew more quickly than the wild-type. Starting a colony with more spores always provided an advantage to a wild-type colony, but was more often neutral or a cost to the soft mutant. The ability to fuse does not provide a consistent advantage to wild-type colonies; net benefits are shaped by both habitat and initial spore densities.