Phylogenetic Relationships in the North Eurasian Group of the Daedaleopsis Genus Fungi

This paper presents the results of phylogenetic analysis of three morphospecies in the Daedaleopsis genus (Polyporaceae, Agaricomycetes): D. confragosa, D. septentrionalis, and D. tricolor. It has been shown that the rDNA ITS sequences of D. confragosa, D. tricolor, and D. septentrionalis from the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East form a single cluster on the phylogenetic tree. The nucleotide similarity of the ITS sequences from the analyzed morphospecies is 98.95–99.29% and falls within its intragroup values range (98.65–99.44%). The nucleotide divergence (Dxy) of the ITS sequences from these morphospecies is 0.69–1.08% and does not exceed the intragroup nucleotide diversity values (π): 0.52–1.34%. Based on the nucleotide divergence and nucleotide similarity of the rDNA ITS sequences, the differences between D. confragosa, D. tricolor, and D. septentrionalis do not reach levels which would allow one to recognize them as separate species. Given this, and the sympatric nature of D. confragosa, D. tricolor, and D. septentrionalis distribution, they should be considered three morphological varieties of D. confragosa. From the ecological point of view, they can be considered three ecotypes, one of them (D. confragosa) being confined to azonal biotopes and the two other being ecotypes adapted to latitude-specific climates: north boreal (D. septentrionalis) and south boreal (D. tricolor).