DNA-based species identification of Greek macromycetes

Fungi comprise one of the largest and diverse groups of eukaryotes. Macromycetes, which are commonly known as mushrooms, include species in Basidiomycota and Ascomycota. Macromycetes are essential for ecosystem functioning and have high commercial value owing to their nutritional and medicinal properties. Despite the importance of macrofungi for the ecosystem and human welfare, macromycete diversity and phylogeny are poorly characterized, owing to the lack of molecular-based biodiversity descriptors supporting phenotypic classifications, especially for biodiversity rich countries such as Greece. In this study, we implemented a multi-marker DNA barcoding approach, utilizing the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) and part of the 28S nuclear ribosomal Large Subunit (nrLSU) rDNA regions, for the molecular identification of representative Greek macromycetes. Our analysis involved 103 Greek macromycetes covering seven genera of Basidiomycota (Agaricus, Amanita, Boletus, Cantharellus, Lactarius, Pleurotus, and Russula) and one genus of Ascomycota (Morchella). Phylogenetic inference based on the generated rDNA sequences, revealed high DNA divergence among most of the examined macromycete genera, which formed discrete monophyletic groups. Our phylogenetic analysis, in accordance with previous studies in the field, further supports the early divergence of the Cantharellus clade, followed by the subsequent split of the Russulaceae from a sister clade formed by the Agaricus, Amanita, Boletus and Pleurotus genera.