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Phanerochaete

Phanerochaete is a genus of crust fungi in the family Phanerochaetaceae.

Taxonomy

The genus was circumscribed by Finnish mycologist Petter Karsten in 1889. Marinus Anton Donk redefined the limits of the genus in two publications in 1957 and 1962. Phanerochaete has traditionally been delimited based on the overall morphology of the fruit body, as well as microscopic characteristics including the nature of the hyphal structure, cystidia, and spores. Molecular analyses demonstrate that the genus is polyphyletic, containing members placed throughout the phlebioid clade of the Polyporales.

The genus name is derived from the Greek words φανεφός ("distinct") and χαίτη ("hair").

Description

Phanerochaete species have membranaceous, crust-like fruit bodies. The hyphal system is monomitic, with simple-septate generative hyphae; single or multiple clamps may be present in the subiculum. The basidia (spore-bearing cells) are club-shaped and smooth. Spores of the genus are thin-walled, inamyloid, hyaline, and have a cylindrical to ellipsoidal shape. Phanerochaete species cause white rot on both conifers and hardwoods.

Chemistry

Phanerochaete includes white rot fungi that are able to degrade the woody polymer lignin to carbon dioxide. This is achieved, in part, by lignin peroxidases and manganese peroxidases. These peroxidases are also able to mediate oxidation of a wide variety of organic pollutants. The genome of Phanerochaete chrysosporium was sequenced and shows the genetic potential to make over 100 cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. White rot fungi have been used in bioremediation efforts to break down potentially harmful chemicals in soil and in water. For example, phenol-formaldehyde is degraded by P. chrysosporium, while P. sordida breaks down the neonicotinoid pesticide clothianidin.

Species

, Index Fungorum accepts 101 species of Phanerochaete:

References

Further reading