REVSYS: Phylogenetic and Revisionary Systematics of North American Truffles (Tuber, Ascomycota)

本项目支持块菌属（fungus, Ascomycota, Pezizales）北美松露真菌的基础分类研究。松露产生的地下蘑菇是人类和觅食动物广泛寻找的食用菌；作为菌根真菌，松露也是健康森林生态系统的重要组成部分。本课题的主要目的是：1)建立一个权威的基于DNA证据的块茎物种系统发育分类系统；2)在若干种复合体和分布广泛的分类群中确定分类类群；3)整合和分配来自环境样本（菌根和土壤样本）的未识别块茎物种；4)建立北美、欧洲和亚洲的松露物种数据库，包括描述、数字图像和基于网络的松露未知物种识别工具。这将是第一个基于DNA序列与经典分类方法结合的现代方法对全球松露多样性进行总结的研究。该研究项目还将为几名研究生和本科生提供真菌学和分子生态学方面的培训。外联活动包括讲习班和与业余和商业松露团体的伙伴关系，包括开发在线资源。

This project supports basic taxonomic studies on North American truffle fungi belonging in the genus Tuber (Fungi, Ascomycota, Pezizales). Truffles produce underground mushrooms that are widely sought as edible fungi by humans and foraging animals; as mycorrhizal fungi, truffles are also important components of healthy forest ecosystems. The primary aims of this project are: 1) To establish an authoritative phylogenetic classification system for Tuber species based on DNA evidence; 2) To define taxonomic groupings within several species complexes and widely distributed taxa; 3) To integrate and assign unidentified Tuber species from environmental samples (mycorrhiza and soil samples); 4) To establish a database for North American, European and Asian species with descriptions, digital images, and tools for web-based identification of unknown truffle species.This will be the first study to summarize our knowledge of global truffle diversity based on modern methods using DNA sequences combined with classic taxonomic approaches. This research project will also provide training in mycology and molecular ecology for several graduate and undergraduate students. Outreach activities include workshops and partnerships with amateur and commercial truffling groups, including development of online resources.