EVOGENE Seminar: Klaus Høiland - The genus Cortinarius (Basidiomycota) on Svalbard, a project funded by Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre

Abstract: On Svalbard there are found approximately 20 species of genus Cortinarius, the majority belonging to the difficult subgenus Telamonia. Many of the species are common in the tundra vegetation and play an important role in the funga because they build ectomycorrhiza. The most important hosts are Salix polaris, Dryas octopetala and Bistorta vivipara, since these plants are among the most common species of the archipelago. However, many of the Cortinarius species are very difficult to determine correctly, and dried fungaria specimens are even more difficult. Therefore regularly sequencing of the common fungal barcode nr DNA ITS is a prerequisite for a correct as possible determination. Field work around Longyearbyen will also be performed, collecting fresh material to be sequenced by NorBOL (Norwegian Barcode of Life). Cooperation with mycologists at UiO and NINA (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research) will be important.