Within the framework of the JGI CSP 'Metatranscriptomics of
Forest Soil Ecosystems' project, we are aiming to explore the
interaction of forest trees with communities of soil fungi,
including ectomycorrhizal symbionts and saprotrophic soil fungi
impacting carbon sequestration in forests. We are sequencing the
genome of the most abundant fungal species harvested on several
long-term observatories to serve as the foundation for a reference
database for metagenomics and metatranscriptomics of fungi and for
a comprehensive survey of the potential soil fungal
metabolome.
Onnia scaura
The genus Onnia belongs to the Hymenochaetales, an order
in the Agaricomycetes containing mostly wood-decayers and some
parasites, mycorrhizal (Coltricia &
Coltriciella) and moss-associated fungi
(Rickenella). The Hymenochaetales contains approximately
600 species with most of them classified in the Hymenochaetaceae
(ca. 400), where Onnia also belongs. This family includes
the well-known genera Inonotus, Hymenochaete and
Phellinus, which contain aggressive white rotters that can
turn into pathogens in weak or damaged forests. Some species of the
genus Onnia (O. tomentosa, pictured) can also be
pathogens of spruce at higher altitudes, causing white pocket rot,
also known as tomentosus root rot and can cause significant damage
in spruce monocultures. Fruiting bodies of Onnia species
are dull brown like most Hymenochaetales, astipitate or either
laterally or centrally stipitate. They have a cork-like, velvety
appearance often with zonate upper surface and show a
characteristic black reaction to potassium-hydroxide, which is one
of the traditional unifying taxonomic characters for the
Hymenochaetales.
The genome of Onnia scaura will be compared to those of
other saprotrophic Agaricomycotina to characterize the diversity
and evolution of decay mechanisms, organismal phylogenetic
relationships, and developmental evolution.
As always, please contact the PI (Francis Martin, INRA) associated
with unpublished genomes for permission prior to the use of any
data in publications.
Home • Onnia scaura P-53A v1.0
