Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Ectomycorrhizas of Phylloporus (Boletales) and Quercus sapotifolia from Tropical Oak Forest of Eastern Mexico

The genus Phylloporus has a worldwide distribution and although members of it are known to be ectomycorrhizal associates of several tree families, their ectomycorrhizas and specific symbiotic interactions are almost unknown. In this study, basidiomes and ectomycorrhizas of Phylloporus were sampled in two monodominant tropical areas from Quercus sapotifolia and Quercus oleoides in eastern Mexico. Mycorrhizal root tips were characterized morpho-anatomically and using molecular method. Phylloporus rimosus and Phylloporus sp. were identified as ectomycorrhizas after bioinformatic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and large subunit (28S) of nuclear ribosomal DNA and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (tef1-alpha) region of root-tips. The morphoanatomical description of these two ectomycorrhizas are presented here. Although there was presence of Phylloporus basidiomes in the two areas where Q. sapotifolia and Q. oleoides trees were dominant, the presence of belowground ectomycorrhizas was scarce. They were only found in a pure stand of Q. sapotifolia. This is the first work that confirms from both morphoanatomical and molecular evidence the ectomycorrhizal association of members of the genus Phylloporus. Moreover, we proved the interaction of Quercus sapotifolia from the tropical Forest of eastern Mexico with two species of Phylloporus.