Reassessment of fungal species composition in Japan based on verification of universality and uniqueness

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06802
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 45030:Biodiversity and systematics-related
• Research Institution: Hirosaki University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Kazuaki 弘前大学, 農学生命科学部, 教授 (60431433)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• 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

Plant parasitic fungi in Japan have been identified mainly based on two assumptions. For example, fungi on woody plants such as beeches (Fagus spp.) have been considered to be the same species (universal species) between Japan and Europe/America (Assumption 1). It has also been believed that some fungal species on bamboos in Japan are composed of unique species (endemic species) (Assumption 2). These assumptions about species boundaries of ascomycetous fungi in Japan were tested by morphological comparison of phenotypic characters and phylogenetic analyses using molecular data. Assumption 1 was generally rejected, while assumption 2 was generally accepted. One new order and ten new species (including eight new combinations) of ascomycetous fungi were discovered and described, demonstrating species diversity of fungi in Japan.

Free Research Field

菌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本産菌類の種に関する「普遍性」と「固有性」という対照的な特徴について、形態学的・分子系統学的に検証した。結果として日本の菌類相は従来考えられていたよりも、より多様な種により構成されていることを明らかにした。菌類の種同定に関連した従前の前提を見直すことで、菌類における種の考え方を根本的に変えていくきっかけになることが期待できる。本研究課題を進めるなかで約400株以上の純粋培養株を新たに取得した。これらを微生物遺伝資源として系統保存するとともに、有用代謝産物の探査源として整備・利用した。