Phylogeny and genetic diversity of Bridgeoporus nobilissimus inferred using mitochondrial and nuclear rDNA sequences

Abstract

The genetic diversity and phylogeny of Bridgeoporus nobilissimus have been analyzed. DNA was extracted from spores collected from individual fruiting bodies representing six geographically distinct populations in Oregon and Washington. Spore samples collected contained low levels of bacteria, yeast and a filamentous fungal species. Using taxon-specific PCR primers, it was possible to discriminate among rDNA from bacteria, yeast, a filamentous associate and B. nobilissimus. Nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences of B. nobilissimus were compared among individuals representing six populations and were found to have less than 2% variation. These sequences also were used to design dual and nested PCR primers for B. nobilissimus-specific amplification. Mitochondrial small-subunit rDNA sequences were used in a phylogenetic analysis that placed B. nobilissimus in the hymenochaetoid clade, where it was associated with Oxyporus and Schizopora.

• Abies procera
• Basidiomycete
• conk
• fungi
• Fuzzy Sandoze
• hymenochaetoid clade
• molecular systematics
• Noble fir
• Noble polypore
• old-growth forest
• Oxyporus
• Polyporaceae

Many thanks to these people: Claire Hibler, Terry Fennel and Judy Roger helped in locating B. nobilissimus fruiting bodies; Paul Stamets donated cultures derived from tissue and spores of B. nobilissimus: Tom Volk reviewed the manuscript; Meg Cowden shared valuable information from her current study. This work was supported by the Daniel E. Stuntz Foundation and financed by grants awarded to RJR and JFA from the USFS and the USGS.