Three species of Heterobasidion (Basidiomycota, Hericiales), H. parviporum, H. orientale sp. nov. and H. ecrustosum sp. nov. from East Asia

A novel putative partitivirus of the saprotrophic fungus Heterobasidion ecrustosum infects pathogenic species of the Heterobasidion annosum complex

“…All of these species occur in Asia, which is likely to be the centre of evolution for the genus Heterobasidion (Dai et al 2003 (Ota et al 2006;Dai et al 2007;Dai & Korhonen 2009;Tokuda et al 2009). …”

Species of Heterobasidion host a diverse pool of partitiviruses with global distribution and interspecies transmission

“…The H. annosum complex includes some of the most destructive forest pathogens in the boreal forest region (Woodward et al 1998 The Heterobasidion insulare complex includes mostly saprotrophic wood-decay fungi that occur in eastern Asia. Four species have been recently described: H. linzhiense from Tibet, H. orientale from Japan and north-eastern China, H. ecrustosum from Japan and eastern China, and H. australe from southern China (Ota et al 2006;Dai et al 2007;Dai & Korhonen 2009;Tokuda et al 2009). Some representatives of the H. insulare complex and H. annosum complex occur sympatrically on the same host tree species.…”

Heterobasidion australe, a new polypore derived from the Heterobasidion insulare complex

“…However, H. ecrustosum has an annual habit, and its pores are larger (2-4/mm). Its upper surface is pale yellow or yellowish brown, and its pore surface is not glancing (Tokuda et al 2009). In contrast, H. australe has a perennial habit, and its pores are small (4-6/mm); its upper surface is reddish brown to dark brown, and its pore surface is glancing.…”

“…Heterobasidion orientale is a defi nitely annual species; its pores are round to labyrinthiform and large (1-3/mm), and its dissepiments are strongly lacerate to irpicoid (Tokuda et al 2009). Microscopically, its skeletal hyphae are subparallel along the tubes whereas they are interwoven in H. australe.…”