James Trappe

Last updated
James Martin Trappe
Born
Spokane, Washington, USA
Citizenship United States
Known forResearching Truffles
Scientific career
Fields Mycology, Forestry
Doctoral advisor Daniel Elliot Stuntz
Author abbrev. (botany) Trappe

James Martin Trappe (born 1931) is a mycologist and expert in the field of North American truffle species. He has authored or co-authored 450 scientific papers and written three books on the subject. MycoBank lists him as either author or co-author of 401 individual species, and over the course of his career he has helped guide research on mycorrhizal fungi, and reshaped truffle taxonomy: establishing a new order, two new families, and 40 individual genera. [1]

Contents

Research

Hypogeous Fungi or ‘Truffles’

Trappe first encountered truffles in the wild in the late 1950s during his Ph.D. thesis research. Since then Trappe has become widely regarded as one of the foremost experts on truffles in the world. In his search for truffle specimens he has collected on "every continent except Africa and Antarctica". [2]

Mycorrhizae

Trappe has also been keenly interested in the role that mycorrhizal fungi (which many truffles are) in natural environments. As early as his undergraduate tenure he was doing work on the subject, and his PhD thesis was to monograph Cenococcum graniforme , one of the most ubiquitous and promiscuous mycorrhizal symbiotes on the planet. [3] However, more notable in his early career was his pioneering compilation of mycorrhizal fungi, which is “one of the most cited papers in mycorrhizal research”. [4] In his postdoctoratal research he elucidated the mycorrhizal causes of poor colonization and growth by Pseudotsuga menziesii in soils without enough mycorrhizal symbiotes present in the area. [5] To date he is one of the major voices in mycorrhizal research, particularly with respect to its application to forestry.

Life

Childhood

Trappe started studying nature very early on in his life. From as young as age five his family would head out into the woods for picnics with family friends that were foresters in the Spokane, WA area or as far abreast as the close reaches of Idaho. “[My dad’s friend] just made the whole forest come alive.” Trappe recounted in one interview. [6]

College and early career

Trappe attended the University of Washington, where he received his bachelor's degree in Forest Management. Later in his career he went on to get his Master's at the State University of New York in the same field before returning to the University in Washington to work on his PhD with Daniel Elliot Stuntz (a renowned expert on Inocybe ), which he received in 1962. During his dissertation work Trappe started employment at the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station at La Grande, Oregon, where he worked for two years before transferring to the Portland station in 1958. Trappe’s thesis on Cenococcum graniforme was established along with his comprehensive compilation of ectomycorrhizal fungi (the first of its kind).

Trappe was appointed a project leader in forest mycology at the Corvallis station in 1965 and he stayed in that position until his 'retirement' in 1996. When he arrived at Corvallis, one of the most important collections of hypogeous fungi in North America was in care of the retiring Professor Helen Margaret Gilkey who bequeathed it to Trappe, a windfall which aided his future research immensely. During his tenure at Corvallis he participated in and eventually became a trustee of the North American Truffling Society which has worked to further collaboration among hobbyists and researchers on in the field of hypogeous fungi, travelled to Torino to study truffle specimens, hosted visiting scholars from over 20 countries and mentored many prominent mycologists in their own right.

Continuing Work

Despite having retired, Trappe remained as a research professor with the Department of Forest Science at Corvallis for 10 years before technically retiring in 1996. he has remained active well after his second retirement. Since 1999 he has been sojourning to Australia for 4–5 months a year to work on truffle taxonomy with the Australian Government, [7] resulting in many papers. [8] [9] [10] In 2007 he published a book on North American truffle identification with his son and published a second volume on the ecological status of truffles with Chris Maser and Andrew W. Claridge in 2008.

Trappe has continued to publish, with papers published as recently as 2013 regarding his work on Australian truffle diversity.

Eponymous species

Several taxa have been named in honor of Trappe:

Family
Genera
Species
The standard author abbreviation Trappe is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name. [16]

Books

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Truffle</span> Fruiting body of a subterranean ascomycete fungus

A truffle is the fruiting body of a subterranean ascomycete fungus, predominantly one of the many species of the genus Tuber. In addition to Tuber, over one hundred other genera of fungi are classified as truffles including Geopora, Peziza, Choiromyces, and Leucangium. These genera belong to the class Pezizomycetes and the Pezizales order. Several truffle-like basidiomycetes are excluded from Pezizales, including Rhizopogon and Glomus. Truffles are ectomycorrhizal fungi, so they are usually found in close association with tree roots. Spore dispersal is accomplished through fungivores, animals that eat fungi. These fungi have significant ecological roles in nutrient cycling and drought tolerance.

<i>Lepiota</i> Genus of fungi

Lepiota is a genus of gilled mushrooms in the family Agaricaceae. All Lepiota species are ground-dwelling saprotrophs with a preference for rich, calcareous soils. Basidiocarps are agaricoid with whitish spores, typically with scaly caps and a ring on the stipe. Around 400 species of Lepiota are currently recognized worldwide. Many species are poisonous, some lethally so.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sporocarp (fungi)</span> Fungal structure on which spore-producing structures are borne

The sporocarp of fungi is a multicellular structure on which spore-producing structures, such as basidia or asci, are borne. The fruitbody is part of the sexual phase of a fungal life cycle, while the rest of the life cycle is characterized by vegetative mycelial growth and asexual spore production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discinaceae</span> Family of fungi

The Discinaceae are a family of ascomycete fungi, the best known members of which are the false morels of the genus Gyromitra. Originally erected by Erich Heinz Benedix in 1961, it was found to be a discrete clade in a molecular study of ribosomal DNA by mycologist Kerry O'Donnell in 1997. As of 2008, the family is thought to contain 5 genera and 58 species. As of 2022, the GBIF accepts Discina(Fr.) Fr., Gymnohydnotrya B.C.Zhang & Minter, 1989, GyromitraFr., 1849, HydnotryaBerk. & Broome and Maublancomyces. But calls NeogyromitraS.Imai and PseudorhizinaJacz. doubtful.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morchellaceae</span> Family of fungi

The Morchellaceae are a family of ascomycete fungi in the order Pezizales. According to a standard reference work, the family has contained at least 49 species distributed among four genera. However, in 2012, five genera that produce ascoma that are sequestrate and hypogeous were added. The best-known members are the highly regarded and commercially picked true morels of the genus Morchella, the thimble morels of the genus Verpa, and a genus of cup-shaped fungi Disciotis. The remaining four genera produce the sequestrate fruit bodies.

<i>Pisolithus</i> Genus of fungi

Pisolithus is a genus of fungi within the family Sclerodermataceae. The type species, P. arenarius, is now known to be synonymous with P. arhizus.

Fevansia is a fungal genus in the family Albatrellaceae. A monotypic genus, it contains the single rare truffle-like species Fevansia aurantiaca, found in old-growth forests of Oregon. The name Fevansia honors Frank Evans of the North American Truffling Society, who collected the holotype specimen. Aurantiaca is Latin for "pale orange", referring to the color of the peridium.

<i>Trappea</i> Genus of fungi

Trappea is a genus of truffle-like fungi in the Trappeaceae family. Species of Trappea have been found in China, Europe, and North America.

Lepiota viridigleba is a species of sequestrate fungus in the family Agaricaceae. It was first described as new to science by mycologist Michael Castellano in 1995, based on collections made among Populus roots in California. The fungus was initially called Amogaster viridiglebus and tentatively placed in the order Boletales. Molecular analysis revealed the fungus to be a member of the genus Lepiota, and it was transferred to that genus in 2013.

<i>Leucangium</i> Genus of fungi

Leucangium is a genus of ascomycete fungi. The genus was circumscribed by French mycologist Lucien Quélet in 1883. Although classified in the Helvellaceae in the past, molecular analysis indicates it is closely related to the genus Fischerula and Imaia, and therefore must be placed in the Morchellaceae. The genus includes two species, Leucangium ophthalmosporum Quél. and L. carthusianum Paol., and both of them produce sequestrate ascoma, globose to ellipsoidal ascus, and dark olive-colored to grayish green, smooth, fusiform ascospores.

<i>Tuber</i> (fungus) Genus of fungi

Tuber is a genus in the Tuberaceae family of fungi, with estimated molecular dating to the end of the Jurassic period. It includes several species of truffles that are highly valued as delicacies.

Dingleya is a genus of truffles in the Tuberaceae family. The genus contains seven species found in Australia. Circumscribed by James Trappe in 1979, the genus is named after New Zealand mycologist Joan Dingley.

Andebbia is a fungal genus in the family Mesophelliaceae. The genus is monotypic, containing the single truffle-like species Andebbia pachythrix, found in Australia.

<i>Gummivena</i>

Gummivena is a fungal genus in the Mesophelliaceae family. The genus is monotypic, containing the single truffle-like species Gummivena potorooi, found in Western Australia. Described as new to science in 2002, Gummivena is intermediate in form between Castoreum and Gummiglobus, and has a gleba with "veins" of gummy tissue and a three-layered peridium. The specific epithet potorooi refers the fact that the fungus is found only in the range of the rare and endangered species Gilbert's potoroo.

Malajczukia is a genus of truffle-like fungi in the Mesophelliaceae family. The genus contains eight species found in Australia and New Zealand.

<i>Kalapuya brunnea</i> Species of fungus

Kalapuya brunnea is a species of truffle in the monotypic fungal genus Kalapuya. The truffle occurs only in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, in western Oregon and northern California. Known locally as the Oregon brown truffle, it was formerly thought to be an undescribed species of Leucangium until molecular analysis demonstrated that it was distinct from that genus. The truffle is reddish brown with a rough and warty outer skin, while the interior spore-producing gleba is initially whitish before developing greyish-brown mottling as it matures. Mature truffles have an odor resembling garlicky cheese, similar to mature Camembert. The species has been harvested for culinary purposes in Oregon.

Kjeldsenia is a fungal genus in the family Claustulaceae. It contains the single truffle-like species Kjeldsenia aureispora, described in 1995 and found in Mendocino County, California. The genus name honors C.K. Kjeldsen, professor of botany at Sonoma State University, while the specific epithet aureispora refers to the color of the spores when they are viewed in transmitted light.

Solioccasus is a fungal genus in the family Boletaceae. It is a monotypic genus, containing the single Australasian species Solioccasus polychromus. This is a truffle-like species with a roughly spherical to lobed fruitbody, which measures up to 4.5 cm (1.8 in) in diameter. It is initially dull white, but becomes yellow to pink to orange to red in maturity, making it one of the most brightly colored hypogeous species known.

Dr Teresa Lebel is a taxonomist and ecologist who works on fungi, with a particular interest in subterranean truffle-like fungi and their mushroom, bolete, bracket or cup relatives.

<i>Carbomyces emergens</i>

Carbomyces emergens is a desert truffle in the genus Carbomyces, a small genus common to the Chihuahuan desert in the southwestern United States and Mexico. C. emergens is regarded as the most common and widely distributed species in Carbomyces, also serving as the genus' type species. C. emergens belongs to the Carbomycetaceae family, in the order Pezizales, class Pezizomycetes, division Ascomycota.

References

  1. ↑ "Oregon Truffle Festival 2014, Speakers: Jim Trappe". Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
  2. ↑ Miller, Henry (November 28, 2014). "Life for Jim Trappe is a truffling matter". Statesman Journal. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  3. ↑ Trappe, James Martin, Cenococcum graniforme -- its distribution, ecology, mycorrhiza formation, and inherent variation University of Washington, Ph.D. 1962, Agriculture, forestry and wildlife
  4. ↑ [James M. Trappe, Randy Molina, Daniel L. Louma, Efren Cazares, David Pilz, Jane E. Smith, Michael A. Castellano, Steven L. Miller, and Matthew J. Trappe. Diversity, Ecology, and Conservation of Truffle Fungi in Forests of the Pacific Northwest. USDA. April 2009]
  5. ↑ http://www.fsl.orst.edu/mycology/Trappe_and_Strand_1969.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  6. ↑ Bernart, Bryant Jim Trappe, Mycology Master Oregon State University
  7. ↑ James M. Trappe, personal webpage
  8. ↑ Todd F Elliott; Neale L Bougher; Kerry O'Donnell; James M Trappe (1 January 2014). "Morchella australiana sp. nov., an apparent Australian endemic from New South Wales and Victoria". Mycologia . 106 (1): 113–118. doi:10.3852/13-065. ISSN   0027-5514. PMID   24603835. Wikidata   Q30772589.
  9. ↑ Todd F Elliott; James M Trappe; Armin Weise (26 May 2015). "Australasian Sequestrate Fungi 19: Hysterangium colossum sp. nov". IMA Fungus. 6 (1): 115–117. doi:10.5598/IMAFUNGUS.2015.06.01.05. ISSN   2210-6340. PMC   4500075 . PMID   26203416. Wikidata   Q30982205.
  10. ↑ James M Trappe; Michael A Castellano; Roy E Halling; Todd W Osmundson; Manfred Binder; Nigel Fechner; Nicholas Malajczuk (24 May 2013). "Australasian sequestrate fungi 18: Solioccasus polychromus gen. & sp. nov., a richly colored, tropical to subtropical, hypogeous fungus". Mycologia . 105 (4): 888–895. doi:10.3852/12-046. ISSN   0027-5514. PMID   23709482. Wikidata   Q30633164.
  11. ↑ Castellano, M.A. (1990). "The new genus Trappea (Basidiomycotina, Hysterangiaceae), a segregate from Hysterangium". Mycotaxon. 38: 1–9.
  12. ↑ Castellano, M.A.; Miller, S.L.; Singh, L.; Lakhanpal, T. (2012). "Trappeindia himalayensis gen. et sp. nov., a sequestrate fungus with potential affinity to Strobilomyces (Basidiomycotina, Boletales)". Kavaka. 40: 3–5.
  13. ↑ Ames, R.N.; Linderman, R.G. (1976). "Acaulospora trappei sp. nov". Mycotaxon. 3 (3): 565–569.
  14. ↑ Lebel, T. (2003). "Australian sequestrate (truffle-like) fungi. XIII. Cystangium (Russulales, Basidiomycota)". Australian Systematic Botany. 16 (3): 371–400. doi:10.1071/SB02016.
  15. ↑ Moreno, G.; Galan, R.; Montecchi, A. (1991). "Hypogeous fungi from peninsular Spain. II". Mycotaxon. 42: 201–238.
  16. ↑ International Plant Names Index.  Trappe.
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