Molecular ecology of hypogeous mycorrhizal fungi: Rhizopogon roseolus (Basidiomycotina)

In order to sort out previous difficulties in the taxonomic classification of Rhizopogon in Europe, particularly R. roseolus, and to establish the RFL P data base for identification of root-tip samples, we examined 52 basidiom es of this species, as well as 7 from other Rhizopogon species using molecu lar tools. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the ribo somal internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) and 5.8 S DNA from basid iomes. The cluster analysis of patterns obtained by ITS-RFLP with five endo nucleases (Cfo I, Dde I, Hinf I, Mbo I and Tag I) showed a high degree of v ariation among isolates of R. roseolus, even from those forming part of the same collection. However, it was not possible to relate the different patt erns with taxa proposed by earlier authors.