Amanita thiersii genome project
Home Background Submit A. thiersii Collaborate Contact	Ecology and Evolution of Amanita thiersii Amanita thiersii is a saprotrophic basidiomycete that is native to grasslands in the Central part of North America. This species forms white mushrooms that are commonly found in lawns in the midwestern United States. A. thiersii is in the genus Amanita, where most species form ectomycorrhizal associations with woody plants. Ectomycorrhizal Amanita species are thought to obtain most of their carbon through these symbiotic associations. A. thiersii and some other saprotrophic Amanita species form basal clades in phylogenies of Amanita, suggesting that there has been a single origin of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis in Amanita. Why would a genome sequence of A. thiersii be useful? Because A. thiersii grows in grasslands and obtains carbon from decomposition of grass litter, this species may have interesting enzymes that could be relevant for the development of biofuels. As a saprotrophic species closely related to ectomycorrhizal species, the A. thiersii genome will offer a powerful system for understanding the evolution of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. The genome sequence will be used to determine the genomic consequences of the evolution of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis and point to the genetic pathways needed to establish the ectomycorrhizal association. This work will be done in conjunction with the partial genome of the ectomycorrhizal Amanita bisporigera, and EST libraries created for the ectomycorrhizal Amanita muscaria.	Photo: Joe McFarland/ illinoismushrooms.com Photo: Benjamin Wolfe Photo: Joe McFarland/ illinoismushrooms.com
Website updated by Benjamin Wolfe – Pringle Lab – Harvard University

Amanita thiersii genome project

Ecology and Evolution of Amanita thiersii

Amanita thiersii is a saprotrophic basidiomycete that is native to grasslands in the Central part of North America. This species forms white mushrooms that are commonly found in lawns in the midwestern United States.

A. thiersii is in the genus Amanita, where most species form ectomycorrhizal associations with woody plants. Ectomycorrhizal Amanita species are thought to obtain most of their carbon through these symbiotic associations. A. thiersii and some other saprotrophic Amanita species form basal clades in phylogenies of Amanita, suggesting that there has been a single origin of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis in Amanita.

Why would a genome sequence of A. thiersii be useful?

Because A. thiersii grows in grasslands and obtains carbon from decomposition of grass litter, this species may have interesting enzymes that could be relevant for the development of biofuels.

As a saprotrophic species closely related to ectomycorrhizal species, the A. thiersii genome will offer a powerful system for understanding the evolution of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. The genome sequence will be used to determine the genomic consequences of the evolution of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis and point to the genetic pathways needed to establish the ectomycorrhizal association. This work will be done in conjunction with the partial genome of the ectomycorrhizal Amanita bisporigera, and EST libraries created for the ectomycorrhizal Amanita muscaria.

Amanita thiersii
Photo: Joe McFarland/
illinoismushrooms.com

A thiersii cellulose
Photo: Benjamin Wolfe

A thiersii
Photo: Joe McFarland/
illinoismushrooms.com

Website updated by Benjamin Wolfe – Pringle Lab – Harvard University