Home • Trichophaea hybrida UTF0779 v1.0
Photo of Trichophaea hybrida UTF0779 v1.0
Trichophaea hybrida, photograph by Dr. Bellis Kullman.

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 Mycorrhizal Genomics Initiative, which seeks to densely sample members of diverse lineages of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi in order to examine functional diversity of ECM fungi. 

Trichophaea hybrida is an ectomycorrhizal fungus that produces tiny cup-shaped fruit bodies. Little is known about the distribution, ecology and physiology of this fungus, but available information indicates that it is distributed throughout Northern and Central Europe, with conspecifics or very closely related sister species in North America. T. hybrida predominantly inhabits old forests, which is contrary to the closely related sister genus Wilcoxina, the species of which proliferate in forest nurseries and are regarded as pioneer species throughout the Holarctic. So far, T. hybrida has been found associating only with roots of coniferous trees, but the possibility of mycorrhiza formation with deciduous trees cannot be ruled out. The mycorrhiza of T. hybrida is very thin compared with other fungal species, involving only 2-3 differentiated hyphal layers in Picea abies, a shared feature with Wilcoxina spp. In Pinus spp., the mycorrhiza type is expected to be ectendomycorrhiza as it is known to be in the sister genus. Species of the whole group form scant soil-exploring hyphae that are highly pigmented and display thick cell walls, suggestive of investment to defence mechanisms. T. hybrida displays fast growth and ready survival for 10 years in axenic culture, indicating its suitability for ecological, physiological and gene expression experiments. The sequence strainUTF0779 has been provided by Dr. Leho Tedersoo from Tartu University.

Researchers who wish to publish analyses using data from unpublished CSP genomes are respectfully required to contact the PI (Dr.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

Genome Reference(s)