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Home , Abies amabilis, Bridgeoporus, Fomes, Oxyporus, Polypore

MYCOTAXON Volume LX. pp. 387-395 OclOber-December 1996

BRIDGEOPORUS, A NEW TO ACCOMMODATE NOBILISSIMUS (BASIDIOMYCOTINA, POL YPORACEAE)

Harold H. Burdsall, Jr., Thomas J. Volk, Center for Forest Mycology Research, Forest Products Laboratory *, Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture, One Gifford Pinchot Dr. , Madison, WI 53705 USA

& Joseph F. Ammirati, Jr. Department of Botany. KB -15 , Uni versity of , SeaUle W A 98195 USA

ABSTRACT: The new genus is proposed to accommodate Oxyporus fJ obiUss;mus W.B. Cooke . Bridgeoporus is associated with a browo rot of , as opposed to the superfi cially similar genera Oxyporus and Rigidoporus, which are associated with while rot. Bridgeoporus lacks clamp connec tions at th e septa, is monomitic, possesses pseudocystidia , and bas a unique configuration of fascicles o f hyphae making up the upper surface of its . Thi s combination of characters is found in no previously described genus .

* The Forest Products Lab is maintained in cooperati on with the

Uni versity of Wi scoosin 4 Madison. This publicati on was written and prepared by U.S. government employees 0 0 official time, and it is therefore in the public domain and not subject to copyright.

INTRODUCTION

Oxyporus lIohilissimus W.B. Cooke (Cooke, 1949) has aUracted a great deal of aUention in the past several years (Christy, 1991; Coombs, 1991) because o f its large size, uncommon occurrence, unique appeardDce, and associalion with very large host . Commonly called the "Fuzzy Sandozi ," it has been reported infrequently (WTU Herbarium records; Trappe, 1990; Christy, 1991) since its discovery in 1943. Currently, living 388 specimens are known from only six sites in and Washington. The fun gus produces perennial basidiomata that may weigh up to up to 130 kg and are usuall y associated with large diameter (at least 1 m) Rehd., but occasionally witb equally large (Doug!.) Forb. or possibly Tsuga hererophylla (Raf.) Sarg. It is tbe first fuogus to be listed as an endangered species by any private or public agency in the United States, baving been listed as sucb by tbe Oregon Natural Heritage program (Christy, Pers. ConlUl.; Lizon, 1995). O. lIobilissimus bas also been listed by the Forest Ecosystem management team (FEMAT; anon. , 1994) as one of 252 species of fungi that must be surveyed for in the bab itat of tbe northern spotted ow!.

The genus OXYPOrrlS (Bourd . & Galz.) Donk accommodates species with a monomitic I system, simple-septate hyphae, and causing white rot. Oxyporus llobilissimlls has beeD reported to cause a brown rot (Cooke, 1949), but the species has been left in Oxyporus (e.g., by Gilbertson & Ryvarden, 1987) because of a lack of specifi c studies demonstrating the of ro t. It has also been placed in Fames (Fr.) Fr. (Lowe, 1955). However, because of the following combination of characteristics, i. e. simple-septate hyphae, association with brown rot, pseudocystid ia o f tramal ori gin, and closeJy-appressed hyphae in fascicles making up the upper surface of its pileus. it is being placed in a new genus, Bridgeoporus.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Relatively small (5-

Although coll ected bas idiospores failed to germinate, we coll ected a number of putative cultures from ti ssues of four basidiomata and from the brown-rotted wood. We amplified and sequenced the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA repeat from DNA obtained from drops and from putative cultures; the DNA sequence from the spore drops (two samples) and 3 putati ve cultures did not match. Thus we could not positively conclude that any of the ti ssue cultures were that of Oxyporus Ilobilissimus. However, O.lIobilissimus bas been reported to cause a brown rot because of th e decay observed in the wood attached to the type specimen (Cooke, (949). Our observations of wood in association with living specimens (whenever possible) also indi cate brown rot. We are confident that O.lIobilissimus causes a brown rot. The brown rot associated wi th the basidiomata is in contrast to that of the type species of Oxyporus, Po/yporus COlllla/IiS Weinm. [ = populillus Schum.:Fr., = Oxyporus pOpU/illIlS (Schum.:Fr.) Donk 1, which causes a white rot.

Besides the difference in rot characteri stics, which are considered important at tbe generic level (e.g. Nobles, 1958; Donk, 1960; Ryvarden, (991), Oxyporus (Bourd. & Galz.) Donk differs from O.lIobilissimlis in havi ng true cystidia that arise from the subhymenium rather than pseudocystidia, which are diffe rentiated hyphal end cells that arise in the tra ma. Species of Rigidoporus Murr. are similar to O.lI obilissimus in possessing pseudocystidia, similar basidiospore and shape and size, and both rhin- and thick-walled generative hyphae, but it causes a white rot. Rigidoporus is probably tbe closest genus fo r placement of this species, but its members cause a white rot and lack the unique pileus surface hypha I structure of O.lIobilissimlls. Lowe (1955) placed O. llobilissimlls in (Fr.) Fr. at a ti_me when that genus encompassed a wide variety of large, conk-shaped species. It is no longer an appropriate placement since the concept of Fames has been narrowed to include only trimitic species, with clamped generative hyphae and sclerids, and causing a white rot.

Other genera with si mple-septate hyphae that we considered for placement of this species included PhysisporillllS Karst. , but its members have resupinate, soft, waxy basidiomata and are associated with a white ro t. Pyclloporelllls Murr., em. Kotl. & POUZ, , contains species that cause a brown rot and form bright orange to rust colored basidiomata that turn deep red in KOH. Poslia Fr. (= O/igoporus Bref.) contains species whose members have clamp---connections OD generative bypbae. In addition, the 390 broadly ovoid basidiospore shape in O.lIobilissimus is very different from known Pos/in species. None of the above genera contain species with the unique hyphal structure of hyphae on the pileus surface that is found in O. nobilissimus. Since no described genus is appropriate, we propose a new genus, Bridgeoporus, to accommodate tbis unique species.

Britlgeoporus Volk, Burdsall & Ammirati gen. nov. Figs. 1-8. Basidiomafibus perellll;s. effusis-rejlexis vel subslipilGris. imbricafi s. cOll crestis, suberosis. lignosis; pileis dense srrigosis. fibr;s ramos;s hispidis, ZOlla/is; syslemate hyphae mOllomilieD, hyphis hyalillis, eJibulatis; pseudocysridiis hyalinis; basidiosporis hyalin is, laevibus. lIonomy/oideis. Consociareus una cum tabes brulllleo.

Etymology: Britlgeoporus m. Named for William Bridge Cooke (widely known as "Bridge"), who described Oxyporus lJ obilissimus.

Type species: Britlgeoporus fl obiiissimlls (W.B. Cooke) Yo lk , Burdsall , & Ammirati comb. nov. basionym: Oxyporus lIobilissimus W. B. Cooke, Mycologia 41 : 444 ( 1949) .. Fomes fl obilissimus (W. B. Cooke) Lowe, Mycologia 47:219 ( 1955)

Basidiomata perennial, 30-140 x 25-95 x 30-100 em, sessile, ungulate, imbricate, or centrally substipitate, with the form depending on location on host (, stump, or li ving) (Fig. I , 2) oft en occluding small twigs and other objects . Texture fibrous, rubbery and tough when fresh. Pileus surface (Fig. 3) a dense mat of white myceli al fi bers in youth, oft en somewhat agglutinated at the tips, becoming cinnamon brown or darker in age ami usuall y reaching several mm in length , often appearing green due to epiphyti c associati on with several species of unicellular algae. Context up to 1.5 em thick, white, tough, rubbery, and fibrous when fresh, cinnamon-buff to ochraceous, hard and brittle when dried. Pores concolorous with context, round, 2 per mm , 2-7 mm long in mature layers, not becoming SlUffed, stratified, with a layer of sterile tissue 2-3 mm thick between successive pore layers.

Figs . 1-3. (opposite page) Macroscopic characters of Bridgeoponts 1I obilissim lls. 1. Sessile form growing on the side of a sn3.g. Note brown rotted wood behind the somewhat inconspicuous specimen in the center. 2. Centrally stipitatc form growing on the ground fro m roots of a snag. 3. Closeup of pileus surfa ce with coa rsc hairs. Fo r info rmation on how to obtain color computer images of these and other photographs of B.llobi/iss;mlts please contact T. Volk. whose current e­ mail address is

392

Fibers of the pileus surface 10-30 mm X (50)-60-75 I'm, with frequent branching and anastomosing, showin g layering as evidence of seasonally add ed increments o f growth, new growth of the fi bers occurring in discrete tufts of agglutinated hyphae scattered over the pileus surface, especially near the margin. lbe fibers are composed of bundles of simple­ septate, parallel hyphae, 2-3 J!m diam, byaline to yelJ ow-brown, simple· septate, thin- to sli ghtly thick-walled, infrequeotly branching.

Context hyphae 3-4 I'm diameter, thin-walled to thick-walled, simple- . septate, hyaline to pale yellow-brown, smooth, rarely branched. Tramal hyphae like those of context, but some becoming thick walled and growing intrusively through the subhymenium, becoming pseudocystidia. Pseudocystidia up to 125 I'm X 6-12 I'm, cylindrical to broadly subulate, arisin g deep in the tramal tissue, evident before formation of basidia, walls slightly thickened or up to 4 I'm thick in age, oft en with a hyaline, crystalline cap. Basidia 12-1 8 x 4-10 I'm, pyri fo rme, 4-spored, simple­ septate at base. Sterigmata 2-3 I'm long. 5.5-6.5 X 3.5-4.5 J!m, broadly ovoid , hyaline, smooth , thin-walled, negative in Melzer's reagent.

Habitat: Occurring singly or occasionall y imbricate on old growth Abies procera ( 1-2 m or more diameter at breast height), rarely Abies amabilis or possibly TSllga heterophylla. Position on the host is variable. It has been found near the root coll ar o f li ving trees or snags, on sides of snags not far from the ground (1 m max imum height), and on old cut stumps, but not known to occur on downed logs.

Distribution: Known onl y fro m tbe Cascade Mountain Range in Washington and Oregon and the Coast Range on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Locations where basidiomata are found were given letter designations (e.g. AC. GM . LM , SP, HT. NR) based on their location. Number in parentbeses following the location indicate number of basidiomata found at that site. Since these are perennial basidiomata of rarely-found fungi that are still extant, we decline to give exact locations in order to protect th em.

Sp~cim ens t!Xamin ~d : A.H. Smith No. 31102, holotype MICH, isotype wru, Me Rainier Nati onal Park, \VA. Abies sp .• 1948; Extant basiiliow ata (portions of which are at CFMR) :, AC (3), King Co., Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, WA , A . proc~ra, 1992; GM (4) Cowlitz Co., MI. St . Helens National Monument, \VA, A.procua, 1992; LM (6) Multnomah Co., MI. Hood Nati onal Forest, OR, A . proc~ra. T.h~l~rophy fla. 1992, 1994; SF (15) Linn Co., Bureau of Land Management, OR, A.procera, 199 1, 1992; HT (2) Olympic National Forest, Gray's Harbor Co., WA, Abies amabilis, 1992, 1993; NR (2) MI. Rainier National Park, Pierce Co., WA, A.procera, 1992 . 393

10 11m

Figs. 4-8 . Microscopic characters of Bridgeoporus lI obilissimus, Fig. 4. Context hyphae. S. Pseudocystidia. 6. . 7. Basidia. 8. Basidiospores. 394

REMARKS: The type specimen was reported on Tsuga heterophyJ/a (Cooke, 1949).

However I microscopic examination of the wood attached to the base of the isotype is that of an Abies sp. (Regis Miller. Center for Wood Anatomy Research, Forest Products Lab, Personal Communication). This is consistent with the vasl majority of specimenlhost associations noted for B. flobilissimus. However one of the specimens in Multnomah County has been found al the base of a large T. heterophylla snag next 10 a lurge Abies procera snag. The host association of this specimen is unclear.

Cooke (1949) considered the to have a dimitic hyphal system. Although thin-walled and thick-walled hyphae are present in the basidiomata, the latter should not be considered skeletal hyphae because of their abundant septa, but rather as scleriried genercuive hyphae. We concu r with Gilbertson & Ryvarden (1987) who report O. lI obilissimus as monomitic. Additional illustrations and descriptions of mi cro· and macroscopic characteristics can be found in Lowe (1955, 1957). Gilbertson & Ryvarden (1987), Coombs (1991) and Chri soy (199 1).

The mat of mycelia on the upper surface is not solid, bu t very porous, containing cracks and crevasses that aHow the accumulation of water and organic debris. Unicellular algae, including sp. and Charicium spp., also occur. Our stud ies indicate that the algae appear to be living among fungal hypbae and not endophyti cally. In addition, some vascular (e.g. Oxalis sp. and pteridophytes) and bryophytcs sometimes occur in and on the surface of tbe pileus.

As indicated in the description, a layer of external hyphae coven; the previous year's pore surface before the initiation of a new pore layer. Each new layer arises from coalescence of di screte patches of formed ell: lemnl to the old pores. The pores begin as indentations on the layer of confluent sterile hyphae.

ACKNO\VLEDGMENTS: We thank James Trappe, as well as Don H. Coombs and M. Maggie Rogers (the editors of , the Journal of Wild Mushrooming) for renewing interest in thi s fungus . We thank Glenn Walker, James H. Ginns, David Shaw, Clai re Hibler, Judy Roger, Lorelei Norvell , Elisabeth Eyestone, and Don and Bonnie Gmndorff for help in finding and collecting specimens and putative cuhures of this fun gus. We thank Karen K. Nakasone. Rita M. Rentmeester and Kelly Collins for testing the identity of the cultures using peR fin gerprinting and DNA sequencing. We thank Linda and James Graham for identification of algal associates and Regis Mi ller for identification of host tree species. We thank Karen K. Nakasone and Mi chael J. La rsen for help with the Latin diagnosis. We thank Michael J. Larsen and Robert L. Gilbertson fo r review of the manusc ript. W e also thank Ernst Parmasto, Leif Ryvnrden, and Tuomo Ni emcHi for helpful discussions on the proper placement of thi s species. 395

LITERATURE CITED

Anonymous. 1994. Standards and Guidelines for management of habitat for late· successional and old-growth forest related species within the range of the northern spotted owl. Attachment A to the Record of dec ision for amendments to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management planning documents within the range of the northern spotted owl. US Government Printing Office, Region 10. Christy, J. 199 1. T he most noble --- Endangered or already gone to passenger pigeon-land . Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming 9(3): 11 Cooke, \V .B. 1949. Oxyporus lJobilissimlls and the genus O:CYPOrtlS in . Mycologia 41:442-455. Coombs, D. H" t 99 1. Looking for a big fuzzy O nt~ . Mushroom. the l oumal of Wild Mushrooming 9 (4):5-8 Da nk , M. 1960. The generic n8mes proposed fo r Polypor.lceae. Persoonia I : 173-302. Gilbertson, R.L. and L. Ryvarden . 1986. North American . Vol. I Abortiporus-Lilldtlleria. Oslo: Fungiflora. pp. 1-436. Gilbertson, R.L. and L. Ryvarden. 1987 . North American Polypores. Vol. 2. Megasporoporill-Wrigluoporia. Oslo: Fungiflora. pp. 437-885. Holmgren, P.K. , N. H. Holmgren, and L.B. Barnell. 1990. Index Hcrbariorum. Eighth Edi tion. New York Botanical Garden. 693 pp. Lizon, P. 1995. Preserving the biodiversity of fungi . inoculum 46 (6): 1-4. Lowe, J.L., 1955. Perenni al polypores of North America III. Fomes with contex t white to rosc. Mycologia 47:213-224 Lowe. J.L.. 1957. Polypor4ct:ae of Nonh America: The genus Fomes . State University College of Fore.'itry al Syracuse Uruversity, Technical Publication No. 80. 97 pp. Nakasone, K.K. and K.J. Sytsma. 1993 . Biosystcnuuic studies on Phfebia ac:erillll, P.T/ifa, and P.radiflfQ in North America. Mycologia 85:996-1016. Nobles, M.K. 1958. Cultural characters as a guide to the and phylogeny of the . Canad. J. Bot. 36:883-926 Ridgway. R. 1912. Color Standards and Color Nomenclature. 53 pl ates. Ryvurden L. 199 1. Genera of Polypores: Nomenclature and Taxonomy. Fungiflora, Oslo. Norway. Synopsis Fungomm S. 363 pp. Trappe, 1.M. 1990. The "most noble" poJypore endangered. /" Ancient Forests of the . Elliot A Norse. The Wild erness Society. Island press. Washington DC pp. 126-127.