| title: | Biogeography and autecology of Thelephorales (Basidiomycota, Fungi). |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF6606 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
1.13. Botany |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | TU Faculty of Biology and Geography |
| head of project: | Urmas Kõljalg |
| duration: | 01.01.2006 - 31.12.2009 |
| description: | The aim of the project is to reveal the biogeographic and diversity pattern of Thelephorales at the forest stand, continental and global scales. To study this, we use DNA sequences from fruit bodies and from ectomycorrhizal (EcM) root tips, and phylogenetic methods. The coevolution between Thelephorales and the dominant plant host taxa will be studied as well. Plant families Pinaceae, Fagaceae, Betulaceae and Salicaceae predominantly host EcM fungi in northern Hemisphere, whereas Uapacaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Myrtaceae, Nothofagaceae, Casuarinaceae, Caesalpinioideae and Nyctaginaceae are the dominant EcM plant taxa in southern Hemisphere. We focus on specialization of cryptic species and morphospecies of Thelephorales on host family level. We study whether biogeographic history (long-term separation due to continental drift) of the host plants plays a role in plant-fungus compatibility. Here we use predominantly sequences from root tips where the host plant is determined. We plan to study the population genetics and autecology, incl. the means of dispersal of the dominant taxa of Thelephorales in boreal forests. Tomentella radiosa and Thelephora terrestris form resupinate and stipitate fruit bodies, respectively. However, these taxa are conspecific based on unpublished sequence data. The factors affecting their fruit body type will be studied. We study population genetics and the means of dispersal in one of the dominant species, Tomentella bryophila or T. stuposa. The distribution of genets of Tomentella sp. in transects will be studied and we elaborate microsatellite markers to distinguish the individuals both forming fruit bodies and EcM. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Urmas Kõljalg | Tartu Ülikool | ||
| 2. | Irja Saar | |||