Fomitopsis schrenkii. Picture by Dimitrios Floudas

This genome was sequenced as a part of the large-scale multi-genome JGI CSP Saprotrophic Agaricomycotina Project (SAP), which focuses on the diversity and evolution of decay mechanisms, organismal phylogenetic relationships, and developmental evolution. A large collaborative effort led by PI of this project, David Hibbett (Clark University) aims for master publication(s) of the SAP data analysis. Researchers who wish to publish analyses using data from unpublished SAP genomes are respectfully required to contact the PI and JGI to avoid potential conflicts on data use and coordinate other publications with the SAP master paper(s).

Fomitopsis schrenkii (Sw.) P. Karst is a brown rot Basidiomycete species commonly collected on dead conifer trees or occasionally live trees in boreal forest of the Northern hemisphere. The basidiocarps of the species are perennial and persist for many years producing a new layer of hymenophore every growing season. The role of Fomitopsis schrenkii in the conifer forests is very important as the species is one of the most prominent wood decayers in these ecosystems and thus play important role in the carbon cycle. The species is characterized by brown rot biochemistry where the cellulose and hemicellulose are utilized by the fungus leaving behind the lignin. This results in a brown appearance of the degraded wood tissue, which crumbles into cubical, fragile pieces. Fomitopsis schrenkii is placed in the clade of Antrodia along with other species of the genus. Antrodia clade is a major clade in the Polyporales, which consists of brown rotters. Postia placenta, which has been sequenced already by the Joint Genome Institute, is also placed in the Antrodia clade. The genome sequence of Fomitopsis schrenkii will increase our knowledge of the brown rot biochemistry for the genus and it will create new opportunities for comparative studies on the wood degradation biochemistry with other important brown rot species, that have been sequenced or they will be sequenced, such as Postia placenta, Gloeophyllum trabeum and Serpula lacrymans.