Intragenomic Variability of ITS Sequences in Bjerkandera adusta

Bjerkandera adusta is a species of common white rot polyporoid fungi found worldwide. Despite playing an important role in deadwood decay, the species strains are used in bioremediation due to its ability to degrade polycyclic hydrocarbons and some of them are important etiological agents of chronic coughs and are associated with lung inflammations. In our experiments, diversity within the species was investigated using molecular approaches and we found that sequence diversity seen at ITS sequence level is not due to cryptic speciation but to intragenomic variability of ITS sequences in this species.

Automated summary

In this study, the diversity within Bjerkandera adusta species was investigated using molecular approaches. It was found that the sequence diversity observed at the ITS sequence level is not due to cryptic speciation, but instead, it is a result of intragenomic variability of ITS sequences in this species.