Size and shape of basidiospores in the Phellinus igniarius group
Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences,Riia St. 181, 51014 Tartu, Estonia; e-mail: Indrek.Sell@emu.ee
Abstract:
Phellinus igniarius group, one of the most important wood-rotting fungi of many deciduous trees, was described as two species (P. igniarius, P. nigricans) more than a hundred years ago. Nowadays, in this group there are known 11 macromorphologically similar species, nine out of which occur in Estonia (P. alni, P. cinereus, P. igniarius s. str., P. laevigatus, P. lundellii, P. nigricans, P. populicola, P. tremulae, P. tuberculosus). These species, difficult to distinguish morphologically, are genetically different.The aim of the study is to find possible differences in the size and shape of basidiosporesof the species of the Phellinus igniarius group. There are some clear differences in the spore size of the species, but even being statistically significant, they do not enable us to identify the specimens in all cases.
Key words:
basidiospores, Phellinus igniarius