Phylogenetic diversity and affiliation of tropical African ectomycorrhizal fungi

Ectomycorrhizal fungi form a mutualistic symbiosis with plant roots, and are key for nutrient cycling in many ecosystems. Here we study the ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in the Oueme Superieur reserve forest in Benin (West Africa). We use phylogenetic methods to test if the species from the study site are closer to other tropical African species than to species from other regions. The Oueme Superieur community was represented by nine Operational Taxonomic Units in Amanitaceae, one in Boletaceae, one in Cantharellaceae, one in Cortinariaceae, two in Inocybaceae, fourteen in Russulaceae and three in Sclerodermataceae. Of these thirty-one Operational Taxonomic Units, twenty had no record …