| Summary: | The overall aim of this research was to provide information to assist in the conservation and management of rare stipitate hydnoid fungi that form ectomycorrhizal associations with Scots pine. Research based on sporocarp production indicates that stipitate hydnoid fungi have declined in Europe and many species are thought to be threatened by extinction. The development of a management strategy for these fungi relies on a better understanding of their ecology, including information on their below-ground distribution and persistence. An ITS sequence database was established for 12 species. Species-specific primers were developed within the ITS1 and ITS2 regions and the specificity of the primer pairs was tested by conducting PCR amplifications for each primer/DNA combination as well as BLAST searches. The primary were used in conjunction with real-time PCR to compare the below-ground distribution of 2 species with their sporocarp distribution. There was no direct relationship between the below-ground mycelium and the sporocarp distribution. A spatial analysis suggests that the mycelium of both species form aggregates. The ability of four species to persist below-ground at locations where sporocarps were previously, but are no longer, recorded was investigated. DNA and RNA detections demonstrated that the target species were present and metabolically active. The below-ground structure of the co-existing stipitate hydnoid species was studied around two typical fruiting sites. Compared to the below-ground distribution of stipitate hydnoid fungi, the fruiting areas were small and limited to sites with a shallow or lacking organic horizon. There were no indications for below-ground interactions between stipitate hydnoid species. Inoculum of 2 species was introduced to new native woodlands. The persistence of both species was monitored by DNA and RNA detection and showed that it is possible to introduce stipitate hydnoid fungi. However, the success was not predictable.
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