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Title: CANTHARELLUS PLEUROTOIDES, A NEW AND UNUSUAL BASIDIOMYCETE FROM GUYANA

Author
item HENKEL, TERRY - ARCATA, CALIFORNIA
item Aime, Mary
item MILLER, STEVEN - LARAMIE, WYOMING
item MEHL, HEATHER - ARCATA, CALIFORNIA

Submitted to: Mycological Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/21/2006
Publication Date: 11/22/2006
Citation: Henkel, T.W., Aime, M.C., Miller, S.L., Mehl, H., Miller, S.L. 2006. Cantharellus Pleurotoides, a new and unusual Basidiomycete from Guyana. Mycological Research 111:1409-1412.

Interpretive Summary: Fungi are a diverse group of organisms most of which are associated with plants as either symbionts or pathogens. Many species of fungi have yet to be discovered in tropical regions. In this research a new species of mushroom-like fungus related to chanterelles was discovered associated with a dominant tropical forest tree. This new species is named, described and illustrated as well as characterized using molecular sequences. This research will be used by foresters, conservationists and ecologists to identify this fungus.

Technical Abstract: Cantharellus pleurotoides sp. nov. (Cantharellaceae, Cantharellales, Basidiomycota) is described from the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana, occurring in rain forests dominated by the ectomycorrhizal tree Dicymbe corymbosa (Caesalpiniaceae). This fungus is singular among Cantharellus species described worldwide in possessing a pleurotoid basidioma. Macromorphological, micromorphological, and habitat data are provided for the new species, and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences of the 28S subunit and internal transcribed spacer region are reported.