Honoring Frank Herbert's 'Dune' - A Newly Discovered Species of Stalked Fungus

Saturday - December 9 2023, 21:33 UTC - 11 months ago

Honoring the memory of Frank Herbert's 'Dune' legacy, a newly discovered species of stalked puffball fungus, Tulostoma shaihuludii, has been found in Hungary's Pannonian Steppe. An international research team discovered the species and the importance of species-habitat connections and geographic isolation to the emergence of new species were revealed. Further research into fungi of Hungary and worldwide will provide a greater insight into the diversity of species.

A recently discovered species of stalked puffball, a gasteroid fungus, has been named in honor of the ‘Shai-Hulud’ sandworms from Frank Herbert’s famous science fiction series ‘Dune.’ Discovered in Hungary, the new species, Tulostoma shaihuludii, is one of four new species in the genus Tulostoma that were discovered and published in the journal MycoKeys .

 The other species are Tulostoma dunense, Tulostoma hungaricum, and Tulostoma sacchariolens​​.Researchers chose the name due to the worm-like appearance of the species’ fruiting body, coupled with the sandy habitat of the Pannonian Steppe, where it was discovered. The team consisted of Péter Finy (Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary), Mikael Jeppson (University of Gothenburg, Sweden), Dániel G .

Knapp (Linnaeus University, Sweden), Viktor Papp (Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Hungary), László Albert (Hungarian Mycological Society, Hungary), István Ölvedi (Hungarian Mycological Society, Hungary), Károly Bóka (Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary), Dóra Varga (Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary), Gábor M .

Kovács (Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary), and Bálint Dima (Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary).These discoveries have been particularly significant due to Hungary’s steppe vegetation on sandy soil being identified as a hotspot for the stalked puffballs in Europe. The research team conducted a comprehensive taxonomic revision of gasteroid fungi in Hungary, contributing to the understanding of this group’s diversity .

The discovery of Tulostoma shaihuludii demonstrates the intricate connections between species and their habitats. It also highlights the importance of geographic isolation in the emergence of new species, as seen in the case of Tulostoma dunense, which is closely related to North American species but distinctly different, as revealed by genetic analysis​​.Honoring the memory of Frank Herbert's 'Dune' legacy, the newly discovered fungus has been named after the sandworms appearing in the book, ‘Shai-Hulud .

’ It resides in Hungary’s Pannonian Steppe, where it was discovered by an international research team. Involving experts from Hungary, Sweden, and the US, this team conducted a comprehensive survey of gasteroid fungi in Hungary. The species Tulostoma shaihuludii is one of four new species discovered, and further research into the species reveals the importance of species-habitat connections, as well as geographic isolation playing a key role in the emergence of new species .

This discovery demonstrates the ongoing importance of biological research, as new discoveries continue to uncover the mysteries of nature's wonders. It is hoped that further research into fungi of Hungary and worldwide will provide a greater insight into the diversity of species, so they can be better understood and appreciated by future generations.Reference: “Exploring diversity within the genus Tulostoma (Basidiomycota, Agaricales) in the Pannonian sandy steppe: four fascinating novel species from Hungary” by Péter Finy, Mikael Jeppson, Dániel G .

Knapp, Viktor Papp, László Albert, István Ölvedi, Károly Bóka, Dóra Varga, Gábor M. Kovács and Bálint Dima, 29 November 2023, MycoKeys.DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.100.112458 .