Species diversity of operculate discomycetes in Israel

Operculate discomycete taxonomy was studied in the geographical regions of Israel and trophic analysis conducted. Our compiled species list includes data from existing literature, herbarium collections, and our own investigation. As a result of our investigation, about 115 species of operculate discomycetes, belonging to 37 genera and 8 families, were found in Israel. Ten species were recorded as new to Israel: Geopora nicaeensis, Helvella chinensis, H. spadicea, Morchella elata, Peziza alaskana, P. bovina, P. gerardii, P. lobulata, Pseudoplectania nigrella, and Tuber asa. Taxonomic analyses have shown that the family Pyronemataceae has the highest number of genera (18), followed by the families Pezizaceae (6 genera) and Helvellaceae and Sarcoscyphaceae (each having 3 genera). Other families are represented by just 1 or 2 genera. The highest numbers of species belong to the genera Peziza (27 species), Helvella (13 species), and Ascobolus (10 species). There are other genera represented by fewer (e.g., 1-4) species. Trophic analyses have shown that all operculate discomycetes in Israel belong to 6 trophic groups: saprotrophs, carbotrophs, coprotrophs, xylotrophs, parasitic, and mycorrhizal. The highest numbers of species belong to 3 major groups in the trophic system of Israel: saprotrophs (61 species), coprotrophs (19 species), and carbotrophs (18 species).