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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #324490
Title: Four new morel (Morchella) species in the Elata Subclade (sect. Distantes) from Turkey

Author
item TASKIN, HATIRA - University Of Cukurova
item DOGAN, HASAN - Selcuk University
item BUYUKALACA, SAADET - University Of Cukurova
item CLOWEZ, PHILIPPE - Collaborator
item MOREAU, PIERRE-ARTHUR - Universite De Lille
item O Donnell, Kerry

Submitted to: Mycotaxon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/6/2016
Publication Date: 8/17/2016
Citation: Taskin, H., Dogan, H.H., Buyukalaca, S., Clowez, P., Moreau, P.-A., O'Donnell, K. 2016. Four new morel (Morchella) species in the elata subclade (sect. Distantes) from Turkey. Mycotaxon. 131(2):467-482.

Interpretive Summary: The present study builds on published molecular genetic analyses of true morels (Morchella) in Turkey that were conducted to develop informed conservation policies. Due to concerns about over harvesting, the genetic data was collected and analyzed to better understand species diversity and their geographic distribution to help insure that morel harvests are ecologically sound and sustainable. These studies led to the discovery of five species that appeared to be new to science. Herein, four of these novel species are formally described using detailed macroscopic and microscopic data. Applying scientific names to these species will help foster communication within the scientific community and advance conservation directed at protecting this valuable natural resource. This research will be of interest to diverse scientists, including foresters, conservation biologists, agricultural scientists, and fungal biologists.

Technical Abstract: Four Turkish Morchella species identified in published multilocus molecular phylogenetic analyses are described here as new, using detailed macro- and microscopic data: M. mediterraneensis (Mel-27), M. fekeensis (Mel-28), M. magnispora (Mel-29), and M. conifericola (Mel-32). A distribution map of morels identified to date in Turkey is also provided.