GROUPING AND IDENTIFICATION OF LOW-TEMPERATURE BASIDIOMYCETES USING MATING, RAPD AND RFLP ANALYSES

Mating studies, and RAPD and RFLP analyses used in connection with phenetic and phylogenetic algorithms, were used to reassess the species identity of 23 putative strains of Coprinus psychromorbidus. The results of the mating studies carried out among some of these strains suggest at least four different species. Statistical analyses based on index of genetic dissimilarity and number of evolutionary steps of RAPD and RFLP data resolved 21 of the 23 putative strains into four distinct groups. We propose that the 23 strains, previously grouped into the single taxon, C. psychromorbidus, belong to four or more different taxa. Advantages of molecular characterization of fungi using the RAPD technique are discussed. RAPD profiles appear to be better suited to molecular analyses oriented toward the characterization and clustering of the low temperature basidiomycetes than are RFLP profiles based on ribosomal DNA genes. Statistical treatment of RAPD data indicated that RAPD profiles, including all major and minor DNA bands, were highly reproducible.