EAPSI: Diversity and Evolution of Gyroporus, a Globally Distributed Group of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi

Gyroporus是一种外生菌根真菌，在除南极洲以外的所有主要大陆都有代表性。这些真菌与世界各地的一系列植物物种相互联系，包括松树、山毛榉和桃金娘家族的成员。这些共生环境是生态系统的基本特征；鉴于物种加速灭绝和范围转移，了解它们的起源和地理至关重要。除了在世界各地的森林中作为共生体发挥作用外，Gyroporus物种还与野生食用菌一样重要。尽管大多数物种可以食用，但目前已知至少有一种是有毒的，这突显了对这一群体进行认真系统研究的必要性。尽管正式承认的历史很长，但Gyroporus中的重要细节仍有待阐明。这主要是因为许多分类群代表着广泛的物种复合体，藏匿着半隐秘的谱系。为了解决这一问题，将使用分类学和系统发育学相结合的方法来检查物种限制和推断种群内的关系。日本是这项研究的理想景观，因为该国拥有一套多样化的回孢子虫物种，包括鲜为人知的特有物种。田野、实验室和植物标本室的工作将在日本国家自然与科学博物馆真菌学家Kentaro Hosaka博士的建议下进行。形态分类数据将来自从野外收集的标本和那些已经保存在日本草本植物中的标本的原始研究。蛋白质编码基因座将成为系统发育研究的重点。也就是说，将利用核基因rpb2和线粒体基因atp6。核基因tef1也将用于选定的样本，以允许估计分歧时间。这些数据将与任何公开可用的DNA序列和首席调查者已经产生的初步数据一起进行分析。系统发育分析将进一步阐明Gyroporus的多样性，并促进物种极限的评估。系统发育还将有助于生物地理假说的评估，例如关于Gyroporus的时间和地理起源、外生菌根伙伴关系的进化以及扩散-替代情景的建议。此外，精选的其他外生菌根牛肝菌样本将被包括在这些分析中以进行比较研究。该NSF EAPSI奖是与日本科学促进会合作资助的。

Gyroporus is a genus of ectomycorrhizal fungi with representatives on every major continent except Antarctica. These fungi mutualistically associate with an array of plant species around the world, including members of the pine, beech, and myrtle familiesThese symbioses are essential ecosystem features; understanding their origins and geography is crucial given accelerated species extinction and range shifts. In addition to functioning as symbionts in forests worldwide, Gyroporus species are important as wild edible mushrooms. Though most of the species are edible, at least one is currently known to be toxic, underscoring the need for careful systematic studies in this group. Despite a long history of formal recognition, significant details within Gyroporus have yet to be elucidated. This is primarily because many of the taxa represent widespread species complexes, harboring semi-cryptic lineages. To address this problem, a combined taxonomic and phylogenetic approach will be used to examine species limits and infer relationships within the group. Japan is an ideal landscape for this research, as the country harbors a diverse set of Gyroporus species, including poorly known and endemic species. Field, laboratory, and herbarium work will be conducted with advisement from Dr. Kentaro Hosaka, mycologist at the National Museum of Nature and Science.Morphotaxonomic data will be drawn from original study of specimens collected from the field and those already housed in Japanese herbaria. Protein-coding loci will be emphasized for phylogenetic studies. Namely, the nuclear gene rpb2 and the mitochondrial gene atp6 will be utilized. The nuclear gene tef1 will also be used for select specimens to allow for divergence time estimation. These data will be analyzed in tandem with any publicly available DNA sequences and preliminary data already generated by the principal investigator. Phylogenetic analyses will further elucidate Gyroporus diversity and facilitate the assessment of species limits. Phylogenies will also aid in the evaluation of biogeographic hypotheses, such as proposals regarding the temporal and geographic origin of Gyroporus, the evolution of ectomycorrhizal partnerships, and dispersal-vicariance scenarios. Additionally, select exemplars of other ectomycorrhizal Boletales will be included in these analyses for comparative study. This NSF EAPSI award is funded in collaboration with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.