Population Genomics of a Rare and a Common Wood-Inhabiting Fungal Species Across Europe

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Franz-Sebastian Krah - , University of Bayreuth, Czech Academy of Sciences (Author)
  • Mathias Scharmann - , University of Bayreuth (Author)
  • Alfons R. Weig - , University of Bayreuth (Author)
  • Jaqueline Hess - , Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres (Author)
  • Harald Kellner - , Chair of Environmental Biotechnology (Author)
  • Antonis Athanasiadis - (Author)
  • Enrico Buttner - , International Institute Zittau (Author)
  • Daniel Dvorak - , Masaryk University (Author)
  • Jan Holec - , National Museum (Author)
  • Reda Irsenaite - , State Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre (NRC) (Author)
  • Kaisa Junninen - , Metsähallitus (Author)
  • Irmgard Krisai-Greilhuber - , University of Vienna (Author)
  • Vladimir Kunca - , Technical University in Zvolen (Author)
  • Sundy Maurice - , University of Oslo (Author)
  • Johannes Meier - (Author)
  • Armin Mesic - , Ruder Boskovic Institute (Author)
  • Otto Miettinen - , University of Helsinki (Author)
  • Kadri Runnel - , University of Tartu (Author)
  • Pablo Schafer - (Author)
  • Zdenko Tkalcec - , Ruder Boskovic Institute (Author)
  • Vaclav Pouska - , Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (Author)
  • Hermann Voglmayr - , University of Vienna (Author)
  • Max Zibold - , University of Bayreuth (Author)
  • Claus Bassler - , University of Bayreuth (Author)

Abstract

Many species have become threatened during the Anthropocene, requiring conservation strategies based on biological evidence. Wood-inhabiting fungi face multiple threats due to a complex interplay of a short lifespan, removal of dead wood as a resource and climate change. Furthermore, rare fruiting events might restrict dispersal via spores, leading to a significant population genetic structure. Yet, little is known about the genetic structure of both rare and common wood-inhabiting fungal species across Europe. Here, we investigate the rare polypore fungus Antrodiella citrinella, which co-occurs with the common wood-decay fungus Fomitopsis pinicola. We analysed a total of 149 individuals of both species across 13 countries, sequenced their genomes and analysed single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Based on a broad set of analyses, we found a very weak population structure in A. citrinella, suggesting historically wide dispersal and effective gene flow across Europe. In contrast, we found support for two moderately differentiated populations following a southwest-northeast separation in F. pinicola, possibly due to dispersal limitation through its relatively larger spores, a more intense forest use history in southern Europe and a post-glacial history of co-immigration with the main host tree species, Norway spruce. While the weak to moderate genetic structure of wood-inhabiting fungi suggests historically sufficient habitat connectivity, conservation measures should consider strategies providing deadwood as an important habitat to restore and maintain connectivity throughout Europe.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere70260
Number of pages15
JournalMolecular ecology
Volume35
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 41645840
Scopus 105029503709

Keywords

Keywords

  • Dead-wood saprotrophs, Dispersal, Fungal conservation, Mycoparasite, Population genomics, Red-list