INTRASPECIES GENETIC AND MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF THE NEW COLLECTION OF MEDICINAL TINDER FOMES FOMENTARIUS (L.) FR.1849 (AGARICOMYCETES, POLYPORALES, POLYPORACEAE) FROM IRAQ

Fomes fomentarius (L.) Fr., 1849 (Agaricomycetes, Polyporales, Polyporaceae) is a significant fungal species widely used in traditional medicine. However, several studies have noted there is a genetic variation among strains collected from different geographic regions. The current study focused on identifying the genetic lineage of the first record of Iraqi strain F. fomentarius which was collected from the dead trunk Ficus sycomorus L., 1753 in Sulaylmaniyah Province. The study also and investigated the intraspecific genetic variability of the polypore. After multiple DNA sequence alignment analysis with international sequences, the study confirmed a genetic non-homogeneity of the presented species, and revealed the Iraqi strain has a unique 7 pb signature sequence and belonged to the lineage B. The Iraqi strain has only 2 base pairs differences from Slovak Southern European sequence and 4-8 base pairs from China, Asia (lineage B) and North American. Characterizing the genetic lineage of the current Iraqi strain is important to preserve its divers therapeutic prosperities and biotechnological applications of this species.