Fuscoporia torulosa (Phellinus torulosus) is a typical polypore of thermophilous forests in Central Europe. In most cases the fungus forms basidiocarps on base or roots of various host trees (mainly Quercus), but sometimes the basidiocarps appear on stem heights of approx. 2 m. This extraordinary fructification pattern seems to be restricted to Pyrus as a host. The aim of this study was to compare such basidiocarps with those growing on the base of oak trees according to their DNA sequences to reveal a possible process of speciation. The so-called ITS region of nuclear ribosomal DNA was chosen for the study. Results did not reveal any significant differences between basidiocarps with the distinct fructification pattern, so all examined specimens belong to one species. The relation of Fuscoporia torulosa to Phellinus senex is discussed.
Tomšovský M., Jankovský L. (2007): DNA sequence analysis of extraordinary fruiting specimens of Fuscoporia torulosa (Phellinus torulosus) on Pyrus spp. – Czech Mycology 59(1): 91–99.
