Morphological and molecular studies in the genus Tremella

This study aims to investigate Taiwanese Tremella and related Sirobasidium species including type specimens. Additionally, other important herbarium material must be studied to understand the morphological differences which fructifications show in natural habitats. Investigating the association with hosts in symbiotic, parasitic and saprobic interactions will provide essential information for adequate culturing conditions. In this work, comparative DNA analyses using partial 25 S and complete ITS sequences have been performed to estimate phylogenetical relationships of a number of taxa in the Tremellales. Comparing these results with conclusions of a thorough morphological and anatomical study, which are also presented here, seemed the best way to get an idea of the course of evolution in this interesting group of fungi.