Diverse subterranean fungi of an underground iron ore mine.

摘要: Mines and caves are unusual ecosystems containing unique fungi greatly understudied compared to other environments. The Soudan Mine in Tower, MN, an iron ore mine that closed 1963 after operating for 80 years, was sampled explore fungal diversity investigate taxa tolerate heavy metals potential bioprocessing technologies or as sources of bioactive molecules drug discovery possible biocontrol white-nose syndrome (WNS) bats. is 714 m deep, has 18 levels contains large quantities wooden timbers, contrast many oligotrophic subterranean Fungi were cultured from samples the ITS region sequenced identification phylogenetic analysis. Results show Ascomycota dominant followed by Basidiomycota Mucoromycota. Out 164 identified taxa, 108 belong 26 31 Mucoromycota, respectively. There also 46 do not match (<97% BLAST GenBank identity) species. Examples most commonly isolated include Scytalidium sp., Mariannaea comptospora, Hypocrea pachybasidioides, Oidiodendron griseum Pochonia bulbillosa; Postia Sistotrema brinkmannii, Calocera Amylocorticiellum sp.; Mucoromycota Mortierella parvispora, M. gamsii, hyaline, basiparvispora sp. Unusual growth forms found including black rhizomorphs Armillaria sinapina white mycelial cords mycelium, well Pseudogymnoascus species growing over areas walls ceiling. environment a relatively extreme fungi, with presence high metals, complete darkness poor nutrient availability. Several genera similar those environments but analyses differences between these indicate this hosts wide them above ground