Integrative Morphological and Molecular Evidence Reveals Phlegmacium herculeum in Türkiye

Abstract Phlegmacium herculeum (Malençon) Bellanger and P.-A. Moreau is a rare, ecologically specialized ectomycorrhizal fungus with a limited distribution. In this research, specimens from Türkiye were identified through an integrative approach that included detailed morphological analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nrITS-based phylogenetic analysis. The macro- and micromorphological features aligned with the species' key characteristics, and molecular results confirmed that the specimens were closely related to Phlegmacium herculeum. This work reports the first validated occurrence of Phlegmacium herculeum in Türkiye, broadening its known range and offering new insights into its ecology and regional biogeography.