Paullicorticium ansatum fruiting body in situ, the origin of the genome strain (coll. Miettinen 18612). [Photo by Otto Miettinen]

In the "1KFG: Deep Sequencing of Ecologically-relevant Dikarya" project (CSP1974), we are sequencing keystone lineages of plant-interacting fungi and saprophytic fungi that are of special ecological importance for understanding terrestrial ecosystems. In addition, comparative genome analysis with saprotrophic, mycorrhizal and pathogenic fungi will provide new insights into the specific and conserved adaptations associated with each fungal lifestyle.

Paullicorticium ansatum OMC1603

Paullicorticium ansatum is a corticioid basidiomycete, which forms inconspicuous fruiting bodies on dead coniferous wood. It was described from Oregon, North America, but is found also in Europe, at least in the collective sense (Liberta 1962; Eriksson et al. 1978). Aside from its rare basidial morphology (basidia are 6-sterigmatic), the species does not initially raise much interest. It is presumably a wood decomposer, but nothing can be said about its type of rot. With the perspective of DNA data however, this species turns very interesting. It does not seem to have close relatives, and the closest hits are from the Dacrymycetes - a class with a very distinctive and different morphology. Genomic data of Paullicorticium ansatum will help to resolve its position within the Agaricomycotina. Similarly, Dacrymycetes are well-documented brown-rot fungi, whereas basal Agaricomycetes are not (the type of rot in Cantharellales, Agaricomycetes, is an open question). Where does Paullicorticium ansatum stand in this continuum? Thus this minute, inconspicuous fungus will be highly useful in deciphering evolution of Agaricomycotina.

It appears that Paullicorticium as a genus is polyphyletic, but it may be that P. ansatum is related to the type species, P. pearsonii, whereas the other four currently recognized species in the genus are likely unrelated.

The genome strain of P. ansatum (OMC 1603) derives from a spore print of a collection made on Pseudotsuga menziesii in Washington, USA (leg. Miettinen 18612).

Researchers who wish to publish analyses using data from unpublished CSP genomes are respectfully required to contact the PI and JGI to avoid potential conflicts on data use and coordinate other publications with the CSP master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