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Suillus plorans
Suillus plorans photographed by Gerhard Koller (Gerhard) - This image is Image Number 211063 at Mushroom Observer, a source for mycological images., CC BY-SA 3.0.

Suillus plorans

Suillus plorans is a mutualistic ectomycorrhizal mushroom-forming fungus that exchanges soil mineral nutrients for photosynthates from its host. The species associates with five-needle pine (Subgenus Strobus) hosts. The species is commonly associated with Pinus cembra in Europe. Morphologically it resembles S. variegatus in Europe and S. fuscotomentosus in north America, except that these other species associate with two-needle pines (Subgenus Pinus).

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.

Genome Reference(s)