MERG - Universitetet i Oslo

MERG
A molecular phylogeny of the brown-spored agarics
(Basidiomycota)
Objectives of the project
• Re-analyse the current classifications schemes of the brown-spored agarics and define
monophyletic groups.
• Track and analyse the evolution of various mycorrhizal and saprotrophic life-forms.
• Analyse infrageneric molecular phylogeny in Galerina, and test species boundaries and character
evolution, using a multi-locus phylogenetic approach.
• Analyse infrageneric molecular phylogeny in Cortinarius, and track the evolution of chemical,
morphological and ecological characters in light of the molecular results.
• Perform a critical examination of the G. atkinsoniana and G. marginata species complexes, using a
combination of multi-locus sequencing and AFLP fingerprints.
Galerina marginata, Photo: Klaus Høiland
Project summary
The brown-spored agarics include saprotrophic and mycorrhizal fungi belonging to the families
Bolbitiaceae, Cortinariaceae, Crepidotaceae, and Strophariaceae. The taxonomy is largely based on
morphological and ecological characters, as in most groups of fungi. In this PhD project, our main goal
is to support species and genus level distinction by using DNA sequence data to infer phylogenetic
relatedness and character evolution, and subsequently, to approach a phylogenetic classification of the
brown-spored agarics. Multilocus sequence data sets will be analyzed using parsimony and maximum
likelihood based phylogenetic methods. A special emphasis is put on the genus Galerina, which
includes saprotrophic and bryophilous species producing small, mycenoid and yellow to brownish
basidiocarps.
The team
Øyvind Stensrud (PhD), Trond Schumacher, Håvard Kauserud, Klaus Høiland + external collaborators.