Collybia sensu lato of the central and western regions of Puerto Rico: Biotechnological capabilities, characterization and identification using traditional and molecular techniques

An eighteen month survey at the central and western regions of Puerto Rico was done to monitor Collybia sensu lato (s.l .) The genus Collybia is in the Basidiomycota division, order Agaricales. They are saprophytes and can produce antimicrobial agents and enzymes with industrial significance. Collybia sensu lato is an important group of fungi because over the years it has been involved in many taxonomical discrepancies. Molecular approaches such as: DNA sequencing, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism and phylogenetics studies based in Internal Transcribed Spacer of rDNA, were used in this study to identify the specimens collected. Light (phase contrast) and Scanning Electron Microscopy techniques were used to morphologically describe the Collybia s.l . specimens. Fourteen Collybioid fungus and related genera were identified in this study; eleven Gymnopus, two Crinipellis and one Marasmius. Also, all the Collybia s.l. collected were tested to determine the production of microbial inhibitory substances. Five of the six Collybia-like fungus tested produced a substance that inhibited the growth of gram-positive{09}and gram-negative bacteria. A specific restriction digestion patterns based in 18S of rDNA, using HaeIII endonuclease, shows a possible biological genetic marker for the genus Gymnopus. Also the microscopic and molecular studies suggest that Collybia s.l. in Puerto Rico is restricted to the genus Gymnopus. Finally, phylogenetics studies based on ITS region of rDNA shows that Marasmius rhyssophylus is more related to the genus Tricholomopsis than to Marasmius, suggesting a new combination: Tricholomopsis rhyssophylus.