Pyrofomes is a genus of fungi in the family Polyporaceae. The genus was circumscribed by Czech mycologists František Kotlaba and Zdenek Pouzar in 1964.[1] The type species, Pyrofomes demidoffii, was once considered a widespread species with a distribution that included East Africa, Middle Asia, Europe, and North America. DNA evidence demonstrated that North American collections represented a lineage that was different than European collections. The North American sibling was reinstated as P. juniperinus in 2017.[2]
Ecological roles of Pyrofomes
Pyrofomes, a type of brown rot fungi, plays a crucial role in forest ecosystems by decomposing persistent lignin, releasing trapped nutrients to fuel new plant growth (Assefa & Abate, 2020).[3] Without the activity of lignin decomposers like Pyrofomes, an essential aspect of the nutrient cycle would be hindered, potentially reducing ecosystem productivity (Assefa et al., 2015).[4]
^Kotlaba, F.; Pouzar, Z. (1964). "Staining spores of Homobasidiomycetes in cotton blue and its importance for taxonomy". Feddes Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis. 69: 131–142.
^ abcdRyvarden, L. (1972). "A critical checklist of the Polyporaceae in tropical East Africa". Norwegian Journal of Botany. 19: 229–238.
^Cui B.K.; Dai, Y.C. (2011). "A new species of Pyrofomes (Basidiomycota, Polyporaceae) from China". Nova Hedwigia. 93 (3–4): 437–441. doi:10.1127/0029-5035/2011/0093-0437.
