Home • Lycoperdon perlatum FP-102459-T v1.0
Lycoperdon perlatum
Photo credit: Francis Martin

Within the framework of the CSP 'Metatranscriptomics of Forest Soil Ecosystems' and the 1000 Fungal Genomes (1KFG) project, we are aiming to explore the interaction of forest trees with communities of soil fungi, including saprotrophic soil fungi impacting carbon sequestration in forests and ectomycorrhizal symbionts that dramatically affect tree growth. We are sequencing the genomes of the most abundant fungal species harvested on studied long-term experimental sites to provide sufficient taxonomic coverage of fungal genomes to identify and analyze DNA and RNA samples sequenced from environmental samples.


The Common Puffball, Lycoperdon perlatum

A widespread puffball Agaricales with a cosmopolitan distribution, Lycoperdon perlatum  is a saprobic fungus feeding on humus and decaying organic matter. The fruitbodies are club-, pear-, or almost pestle-shaped. They occur singly or more often in clusters, on soil and amongst leaf litter in woods under hardwoods or conifers. It can also occur in grassy places and along roadsides. Fruiting throughout the autumn, the common puffball is a popular edible fungus.

Researchers who wish to publish analyses using data from unpublished CSP genomes are respectfully required to contact the PI (Dr. Francis Martin) and JGI to avoid potential conflicts on data use and coordinate other publications with the CSP master paper(s).