Ecogeographical variation and new host plants of Pleurotus eryngii species complex in Turkey

In nature, Pleurotus eryngii species complex mushrooms are found associated with certain plant species of Compositae and Umbelliferae as facultative biotrophs. This complex species comprises var. eryngii (DC.:Fr) Quel, ferulae Lanzi, nebrodensis (Inzenga) Sacc, elaeoselini Venturella et al., tigitanus Lewinsohn et al. P. tuoliensis C.J.Mou, P. hadamardii Costantin and P. fossulatus (Cooke) Sacc. Turkish wild P. eryngii species complex were collected from different locations of Turkey in this study. Host plants association with Turkish wild P. eryngii species complex was identified. Associated host plants of Turkish P. eryngii species complex were Erynginum compastre L., Ferula communis var. communis L., Ferula orientalis L., Heracleum antasiaticum Maden, Prangos uechtritzii Boiss and Hausskn, Prangos ferulacea (L) Lindley, Ferula orientalis L., Heracleum antasiaticum Maden and Prangos uechtritzii Boiss and Hausskn were first record as a new host plants of P. eryngii species complex in the world. Three taxon belonging to P. eryngii species complex were determined. According to morphological data, these taxon were P. eryngii var. eryngii (DC.:Fr) Quel, P. eryngii ferulae Lanzi and P. nebrodensis (Inzenga) Sacc.