Biodiversity of Morchella in Switzerland: a study highlighting the diversity of native black morels and the discovery of five new phylogenetic lineages

Abstract True morels ( Morchella spp.) are a diverse fungal genus with more than 80 recognized species that show high continental endemism. The cultivation of Asian morel isolates in Europe is becoming more common in Switzerland and other European countries, however, the impact this may have on the diversity of native morel populations remains unknown. In order to address this, we sought to establish an initial inventory of the diversity of native morel species across Switzerland. The biodiversity of morels was assessed through a combination of field collection and multi-locus (ITS, RPB1, RPB2 and TEF1-a markers) phylogenetic analysis. The analyses of a collection of 141 morel fruiting bodies revealed a high diversity within Morchella Sect. Distantes , and the discovery of five new phylogenetic lineages denoted as Morchella sp. Mel-43, Mel-44, Mel-45, Mel-46 and Mel-47. In addition, Morchella importuna , Morchella deliciosa , Morchella pulchella , and Morchella esculenta were detected in Switzerland.