Xylodon remissus growing under a fallen tree trunk in Singapore (coll. Miettinen 23563). [Photo by Otto Miettinen]

In the "1KFG: Deep Sequencing of Ecologically-relevant Dikarya" project (CSP1974), we are sequencing keystone lineages of plant-interacting fungi and saprophytic fungi that are of special ecological importance for understanding terrestrial ecosystems. In addition, comparative genome analysis with saprotrophic, mycorrhizal and pathogenic fungi will provide new insights into the specific and conserved adaptations associated with each fungal lifestyle.

Xylodon remissus sp. n. OMC1960

Xylodon is among the largest genera of corticioid basidiomycetes with about a hundred species. Most species of Hyphodontia and Schizopora have been transferred to Xylodon, and the genus has been placed in the family Schizoporaceae in Hymenochaetales (Larsson 2007, Hjortstam and Ryvarden 2009). Xylodon species inhabit dead wood, causing white rot, and the genus is among the most commonly encountered wood decomposers all around the world, particularly on angiosperms.

Xylodon remissus is a newly discovered species from Southeast Asia, and represents a truly tropical species. It is a fairly typical member of the genus both ecologically and morphologically - basidiocarps are white and minutely spiny to smooth, and it has been found growing on bark of a living tree as well as on a fallen trunk.

This is the second publicly available genome of Schizoporaceae, along with Xylodon ovisporus, which was published as "Schizopora paradoxa" (Min et al. 2015). While Xylodon ovisporus belongs to the core Xylodon clade together with the generic type species Xylodon quercinus, Xylodon remissus is clustered at the deepest split of Xylodon. Together they will be useful in delimiting generic borders in the Schizoporaceae family and understanding of the overall phylogeny in the order Hymenochaetales.

The genome strain originates in Singapore, from the bark of a living Xanthophyllum tree. The strain (OMC 1960) is polysporic, and based on the collection Miettinen 23546.

Researchers who wish to publish analyses using data from unpublished CSP genomes are respectfully required to contact the PI and JGI to avoid potential conflicts on data use and coordinate other publications with the CSP master paper(s).