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Suillus ampliporus
Suillus ampliporus photographed by Nhu Nguyen, October 4, 2014. Iron Spring Bog, Minnesota.

Suillus ampliporus

Suillus ampliporus (Peck) Kuntze is an ectomycorrhizal mushroom-forming fungus. The species associates with Larix (larches) hosts where it exchanges mineral nutrients for photosynthates from its host. The species appears to be associated with more mature stands of Larix species. It was previously known as S. cavipes, but that species, although closely related, was determined to be distinct from S. ampliporus which occur only in North America. It appears to have a broad range of distribution in northern North America that correlates very well with the distribution of its Larix hosts (Nguyen et al. 2016). It is similar in morphology to the Eurasian Suillus cavipes. Its ability to decompose proteins in vitro suggests that this capability may be used in mature forests to obtain nitrogen from proteins locked up in the abundant soil organic matter of its habitat (Rineau et al. 2016).

Suillus as a genus is one of the most common ectomycorrhizal symbionts of the pine family (Pinaceae) in the northern hemisphere. Commonly known as ‘Slippery Jacks’, the mushrooms of this genus provide food for both wildlife and humans. Suillus species have been used in forest restoration following natural and human-made disturbances, have potential for bioremediation (mycoremediation), and likely play an important role in facilitating soil carbon sequestration in mycorrhizal forests.

This genome is part of the Community Science Program (Proposal 502931) “A genome atlas of the ectomycorrhizal genus Suillus: Phylogenetic diversity and population genomics of a keystone guild of symbiotic forest fungi”, a collaborative effort aimed at using genomics data to understand and connect the evolutionary history, ecology, and genomic mechanisms of mutualistic ectomycorrhizal symbionts and their Pinaceae hosts. Please contact the PI for permission prior to the use of any data in publications.

References:

Nguyen NH, Vellinga EC, Bruns TD, Kennedy PG. 2016. Phylogenetic assessment of global Suillus ITS sequences supports morphologically defined species and reveals synonymous and undescribed taxa. Mycologia 108:1216–1228, doi:10.3852/16-106.

Rineau F, Stas J, Nguyen NH, Kuyper TW, Carleer R, Vangronsveld J, Colpaert J V, Kennedy PG. 2016. Ectomycorrhizal fungal protein degradation ability predicted by soil organic nitrogen availability. Applied Environmental Microbiology 82:1391–1400, doi:10.1128/AEM.03191-15.

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