Evaluation of fungal diversity and uniqueness in Japan based on the "one morphological species = one phylogenetic genus" hypothesis

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K07474
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biodiversity/Systematics
• Research Institution: Hirosaki University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Kazuaki 弘前大学, 農学生命科学部, 准教授 (60431433)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 菌類 / 種分類 / 隠蔽種 / 分類体系 / 生物多様性 / 固有種

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A taxonomic revision was conducted on the fungal population that had been considered to be a single species due to morphological similarities. In order to determine the possible existence of undescribed cryptic species, the phylogenetic significance of traits that were once recognized as minute intra-species morphological variations was evaluated based on molecular phylogenetic analyses using sequences of 18S, ITS, 28S nrDNA, tef-1, rpb2, and beta-tubulin. The analysis found, for example, that the freshwater ascomycete Lophiostoma bipolare, which has been reported from various countries, was a heterogenous species-complex comprised of seven genera and eleven species. Including the above result, four new families, 17 new genera, and 50 new species (including eight new combinations) were discovered and described, demonstrating species diversity and uniqueness of fungi in Japan.

Free Research Field

菌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究を通じ、4新科・17新属・50新種（8新組合せを含む）の菌を命名・記載したことで、日本産菌類の多様性と独自性について、その一端が明らかになった。本研究により、菌類がもつ微小な形態的差異の系統的有用性が証明され、各菌類種の宿主範囲が、従来考えられていたよりもより限定的であることが示唆された。これにより、これまで記載されてきた既知種の種同定を抜本的に見直す契機となるものと考えられる。申請者が確立した培養菌株のごく一部から、すでに多数の新規代謝産物が見いだされつつある。本研究で670菌株の純粋培養株をあらたに収集したことで、有用代謝産物の探査源としての微生物遺伝資源が確保できたといえる。