Abstract Detail

Poster Session

Liimatainen, Kare [1], Niskanen, Tuula [1], Ammirati, Joseph F. [2], Kytovuori, Ilkka [3], Dima, Balint [1].

Describing species of macrofungi using differences in DNA sequence data – a case study in Cortinarius (Agaricales).

DNA sequencing of herbarium specimens and environmental samples has led to the discovery of numerous fungus species, including a number of cryptic species. Currently, the traditional system of naming species cannot effectively and efficiently provide names for newly discovered species in a timely manner. To improve this process, it already has been suggested that new species based on environmental ITS sequences only could be described without the use of voucher specimens and morphology. At the same time, the number of undescribed species of macrofungi known based on sequences from voucher specimens is also rather high and the process of naming them should also be facilitated and accelerated. We discuss the possibility of describing species based on ITS sequences only. We emphasize that it is important that the selected DNA region be as good as or better than morphological characteristics for delimiting species in a genus and it is relatively easy to employ by future investigators. It is also important that ITS sequences of type materials be studied whenever technically possible to determine if species have been previously described. This approach is well suited to species rich genera such as Cortinarius where background morphological and ecological data has been evaluated for years and many species are in need of description. Here, we present a case study of Cortinarius section Disjungendi.

1 - University of Helsinki, Department of Biosciences, Biocenter 3, P.O. Box 65, Helsinki, 00014, Finland
2 - University Of Washington, PO Box 351330, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
3 - University of Helsinki, Botanical Museum, P.O Box 7, Helsinki, 00014, Finland

Keywords:
barcoding
biodiversity
classification
ITS
nomenclature.

Presentation Type: Offered Paper - Poster
Session: P1
Location: Lincoln Room/Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
Date: Monday, June 9th, 2014
Time: 8:00 PM
Number: P1010
Abstract ID:176
Candidate for Awards:None