Resinicium bicolor fruiting body growing on spruce in Helsinki, Finland (collection Miettinen 18183) [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.

Resinicium bicolor

Resinicium bicolor is a common corticioid white-rot fungus in boreal and temperate areas throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It prefers to grow on coniferous wood but can also frequently be found on deciduous trees. It is among the most dominant wood-decomposers of spruce in North Europe and Canada (Nakasone 1990), but easily overlooked due to its inconspicuous, thin effused fruiting bodies, which are translucent when young. The fruiting bodies bear small spines on the surface, and large calcium oxalate crystals (asterocystidia) and capitate cystidia (halocystidia) make this species easy to identify under microscope.

Resinicium bicolor belongs to the Hymenochaetales (Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota), and is the type species of the genus Resinicium. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that it may be among the earliest diverging members of the order (Larsson et al. 2007). It has reportedly a bipolar mating system, which is relatively rare among wood-inhabiting basidiomycetes (Nakasone 1990). Resinicium bicolor has been subject to a number of studies focusing on its physiology (Connolly & Jellison 1995), population structure (Kirby et al. 1990), (experimental) community ecology (Holmer & Stenlid 1993, 1996, 1997, Zakaria & Boddy 2002, Hynes et al. 2007, Lindner et al. 2011, Hiscox et al. 2018), pre-treatment of wood in pulp production (Job 2002), and in detoxification of waste rubber material (Brederg et al. 2002).

The strain used for genome sequencing originates in Helsinki, Finland. It is a heterokaryon, and was produced from a spore print of a fruiting body that grew on a fallen, dead spruce trunk.

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.