Research Article

Contribution to the mycobiota of Türkiye: New macrofungal records from Koramaz Valley revealed by molecular methods

Volume: 18 Number: 3 December 15, 2025
TR EN

Contribution to the mycobiota of Türkiye: New macrofungal records from Koramaz Valley revealed by molecular methods

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to document and identify the macrofungal diversity of Koramaz Valley (Kayseri, Türkiye) by integrating traditional morphological approaches with molecular DNA barcoding, specifically targeting the ITS gene region. While approximately 144,000 fungal species have been described worldwide, the actual number is estimated at 2.2 to 3.8 million, indicating vast undiscovered diversity—especially in regions such as Türkiye, where the mycobiota remains incompletely cataloged. The Koramaz Valley, noted for its unique ecosystems and presence on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, had not previously been the subject of molecular-based macrofungal investigations. Fieldwork involved the systematic collection and photographic documentation of macrofungal specimens, with detailed recording of ecological and morphological features. DNA was extracted from dried samples, the ITS region amplified and sequenced, and the resulting data compared to reference sequences using BLAST and phylogenetic analyses (Maximum Likelihood in MEGA). Morphological and molecular data were integrated to achieve reliable species identification. As a result, four macrofungal species—Coprinellus saccharinus (Romagn.) P. Roux, Guy García & Dumas, Coprinellus truncorum (Scop.) Redhead, Vilgalys & Moncalvo, Fomes inzengae (Ces. & De Not.) Cooke and Lepista ricekii Bon—were recorded for the first time in Türkiye based on molecular evidence. Phylogenetic trees constructed for each genus revealed strong bootstrap support for the identification and placement of the studied specimens, with some samples demonstrating close but distinct relationships to reference taxa. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the ITS region in resolving species-level relationships and underscore the need for molecular approaches in fungal taxonomy. In conclusion, the study significantly expands the known macrofungal diversity of Koramaz Valley and Türkiye. It demonstrates the indispensable role of integrating molecular and morphological methods in the discovery, documentation, and conservation of regional fungal biodiversity, and indicates the potential for novel species in the area.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Erciyes University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (BAP)

Project Number

FBA-2023-12419

Ethical Statement

This study does not involve any human participants or animals. All necessary permissions for collecting and analyzing macrofungal samples from Koramaz Valley were obtained from the relevant authorities.

Thanks

This study was supported by the Erciyes University Scientific Research Projects Unit under the project code FBA-2023-12419.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Plant and Fungus Systematics and Taxonomy, Evolutionary Biology (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

October 2, 2025

Publication Date

December 15, 2025

Submission Date

July 1, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 30, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 18 Number: 3

APA
Güllü, M., & Halıcı, M. G. (2025). Contribution to the mycobiota of Türkiye: New macrofungal records from Koramaz Valley revealed by molecular methods. Biological Diversity and Conservation, 18(3), 410-415. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2025.1732263
AMA
1.Güllü M, Halıcı MG. Contribution to the mycobiota of Türkiye: New macrofungal records from Koramaz Valley revealed by molecular methods. BioDiCon. 2025;18(3):410-415. doi:10.46309/biodicon.2025.1732263
Chicago
Güllü, Mithat, and Mehmet Gökhan Halıcı. 2025. “Contribution to the Mycobiota of Türkiye: New Macrofungal Records from Koramaz Valley Revealed by Molecular Methods”. Biological Diversity and Conservation 18 (3): 410-15. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2025.1732263.
EndNote
Güllü M, Halıcı MG (December 1, 2025) Contribution to the mycobiota of Türkiye: New macrofungal records from Koramaz Valley revealed by molecular methods. Biological Diversity and Conservation 18 3 410–415.
IEEE
[1]M. Güllü and M. G. Halıcı, “Contribution to the mycobiota of Türkiye: New macrofungal records from Koramaz Valley revealed by molecular methods”, BioDiCon, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 410–415, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.46309/biodicon.2025.1732263.
ISNAD
Güllü, Mithat - Halıcı, Mehmet Gökhan. “Contribution to the Mycobiota of Türkiye: New Macrofungal Records from Koramaz Valley Revealed by Molecular Methods”. Biological Diversity and Conservation 18/3 (December 1, 2025): 410-415. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2025.1732263.
JAMA
1.Güllü M, Halıcı MG. Contribution to the mycobiota of Türkiye: New macrofungal records from Koramaz Valley revealed by molecular methods. BioDiCon. 2025;18:410–415.
MLA
Güllü, Mithat, and Mehmet Gökhan Halıcı. “Contribution to the Mycobiota of Türkiye: New Macrofungal Records from Koramaz Valley Revealed by Molecular Methods”. Biological Diversity and Conservation, vol. 18, no. 3, Dec. 2025, pp. 410-5, doi:10.46309/biodicon.2025.1732263.
Vancouver
1.Mithat Güllü, Mehmet Gökhan Halıcı. Contribution to the mycobiota of Türkiye: New macrofungal records from Koramaz Valley revealed by molecular methods. BioDiCon. 2025 Dec. 1;18(3):410-5. doi:10.46309/biodicon.2025.1732263

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❖ Biological Diversity and Conservation 
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