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Multifurca ochricompacta
Multifurca ochricompacta (actual genome source) by Brian P. Looney

This genome was sequenced as part of the JGI CSP "1KFG - Deep Sequencing of Ecologically-relevant Dikarya" and more specifically as a part of the Russulaceae Sequencing Project, which seeks to densely sample members of a diverse lineage of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi to examine functional diversity of ECM fungi with a shared evolutionary history.

Multifurca ochricompacta (Bills & O.K. Miller) Buyck & V. Hoffstetter

Multifurca ochricompacta was first described by G.F. Bills and O.K. Miller Jr. as Russula ochricompacta, who recognizing the unusual characters for the species, described Russula subsection Ochricompactae to accommodate it (Bills & Miller 1984). Russula ochricompacta was originally characterized by its sporocarps with a white to apricot-buff cap with concentric zonations, dichotomously forked gills, an orange spore print, a pungent odor of Lysol or lemon oil, and perhaps the shortest spore ornamentation of any described Russula. The genus Multifurca was erected as a novel evolutionary lineage of Russulaceae in 2008 to accommodate species of Russula subsection Ochricompactae and a rarely collected species of Lactarius (Buyck et al. 2008). The group contains species that exude latex as well as ones that do not, presenting a potential novel loss or gain of latex. Species in this group are considered rare with only 7 species known worldwide. Multifurca ochricompacta is apparently restricted to the southeast region of the U.S. New features were observed in recent collections of M. ochricompacta, including the presence of wax-like strobiculae surrounded by hyphal tufts, an in-rolled cap, decurrent gills, and hymenial features resembling Gloeocystidiellum. As this is a rare species, not much is known about M. ochricompacta. A tissue culture was successfully derived from the original genome collection, and this is now being investigated as a potential model system for future studies to uncover the ecological functions and complexities of this mysterious group. The sporocarps for this genome were collected on July 13, 2015 under Quercus in a riparian mixed forest with mainly Tsuga canadensis, Betula nigra, and multiple species of Quercus along the Sugarlands Nature trail of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This species is a representative of a novel and unique group of species and will be important for understanding the evolution of functional diversity of Russulaceae.

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

References

Bills, G.F. and Miller Jr, O.K., 1984. Southern Appalachian Russulas. I. Mycologia, pp.975-1002.

Buyck, B., Hofstetter, V., Eberhardt, U., Verbeken, A. and Kauff, F., 2008. Walking the thin line between Russula and Lactarius: the dilemma of Russula subsect. Ochricompactae. Fungal Diversity, 28, pp.15-40.

Genome Reference(s)