Crustoderma dryinum. Fruiting body in situ, showing characteristic brown droplets on the fruiting body surface (Otto Miettinen 20388). The genome is based on this individual from Southern Finland. [Photo credit: Otto Miettinen]

This genome was sequenced as part of the JGI CSP "1000 Fungal Genomes – Deep Sequencing of Ecologically-relevant Dikarya" project. Within the framework of this project, we are sequencing keystone lineages of saprophytic, mycorrhizal, and endophytic fungi that are of special ecological importance. Dozens of sequenced species were harvested from Long Term Observatories to serve as the foundation for a reference database for metagenomics of fungi and for a comprehensive survey of the soil fungal metatranscriptome.

Crustoderma dryinum OMC1663

Crustoderma dryinum is a wide-spread wood-decay fungus found throughout temperate and boreal Northern Hemisphere (Eriksson & Ryvarden 1975, Ginns & Lefebvre 1993). It is one of the relatively few corticioid brown-rot fungi (most are polypores), and the type species of the genus Crustoderma. The species grows mostly on conifer trunks in middle stage of decay, though it has been collected frequently on deciduous trees as well.

Crustoderma dryinum favors old-growth forests particularly in North Europe, though it seems to be less demanding of its environment in continental Eurasia. It is assessed as vulnerable (VU) to extinction in Norway and Sweden and near threatened (NT) in Finland.

The phylogenetic positioning of Crustoderma is of considerable interest. The species belongs to the Polyporales, where it forms a clade with other Crustoderma species and polypores of the genus Pycnoporellus. All of these are brown-rotters and related to other brown-rotters in the order. However, published analyses based on a few genes have been unable to establish phylogenetic placement of this clade with confidence (Binder et al. 2013, Justo et al. 2017). The genome will help to resolve its placement, as well as to understand if it developed ability for brown rot independently.

The origin of the genome strain is a polysporic culture from Sudenpesänkangas old-growth forest in Southern Finland. It grew on a large spruce log.

The 1KFG project is a large collaborative effort aiming for master publication(s). Please do contact the PI for 1KFG - Deep Sequencing of Ecologically-relevant Dikarya (Dr. Francis Martin) for permission prior to the use of any data in publications.