Porpomyces mucidus photographed in situ in an old spruce forest growing on decayed trunk of birch in the Finnish south coast (Otto Miettinen 18182). [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.

Porpomyces mucidus OMC1666

Porpomyces mucidus (also known as Ceriporiopsis mucida, Fibuloporia mucida) forms resupinate, poroid fruiting bodies on very rotten wood. The species is found scattered in the Northern part of North America (but is more common in Europe, where it is found in the temperate zone and favorable locations in the boreal). Any decayed piece of wood will do: wood remnants, stumps, fallen trees, as long as they are in advanced stages of decay. The species is associated with white rot wood, though it is questionable if this species is capable of white rot. With rhizomorphs, it seems to be soil-inhabiting.

Porpomyces mucidus belongs to the Hydnodontiaecae of the Trechisporales (Hibbett et al. 2014). This is the first genome from the Hydnodontiaceae clade - the two other genomes from the Trechisporales (Sistotremastrum spp.) belong to a separate lineage within the order. The Hydnodontiaceae include taxa, such as numerous Trechispora spp., whose nutritional strategy is an enigma - some are suspected to be ectomycorrhizal (Dunham et al. 2007), though most are associated with dead wood. Ecologically otherwise similar, P. mucidus deviates from Trechispora spp. in that it readily grows on standard media while the latter do not. The P. mucidus genome will shed light in evolution of wood decomposition ability in Trechisporales and early-diverging Agaricomycetes.

The genome is based on a polysporic culture from Helsinki, Finland. The fruiting body was collected on a rotten log of Prunus padus from an old, herb-rich spruce forest.

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.