Rhizopogon
Rhizopogon is a genus of ectomycorrhizal Basidiomycetes in the family Rhizopogonaceae. Species form hypogeous sporocarps commonly referred to as "false truffles". The general morphological characters of "Rhizopogon" sporocarps are a simplex or duplex peridium surrounding a loculate gleba that lacks a columnella. Basidiospores are produced upon basidia that are borne within the fungal hymenium that coats the interior surface of gleba locules. The peridium is often adorned with thick mycelial cords, also known as rhizomorphs, that attach the sporocarp to the surrounding substrate. The scientific name "Rhizopogon" is Greek for 'root' (Rhiz-) 'beard' (-pogon) and this name was given  in reference to the rhizomorphs found on sporocarps of many species. "Rhizopogon" species are primarily found in ectomycorrhizal association with trees in the family Pinaceae and are especially common symbionts of pine, fir, and Douglas fir trees. Through their ectomycorrhizal relationships "Rhizopogon" are thought to play an important role in the ecology of coniferous forests. Recent micromorphological and molecular phylogenetic study has established that "Rhizopogon" is a member of the Boletales, closely related to "Suillus". Taxonomy and diversity. Historical classification. The genus "Rhizopogon" occurs throughout the natural and introduced ranges of family Pinaceae trees. Though this range covers much of  the northern temperate zones, the diversity of "Rhizopogon" species is well characterized only in North America and Europe. There are currently over 150 recognized species of "Rhizopogon". The morphology of "Rhizopogon" species is highly cryptic and characters vary greatly throughout sporocarp maturity. This has led to the description of multiple species from various developmental stages of a single fungus. The genus "Rhizopogon" was first described from Europe by Elias Magnus Fries in 1817. The North American monograph was produced by Alexander H. Smith in 1966 with second author credits given posthumously to Sanford Myron Zeller due to his contributions to  the study of the genus. A European monograph of "Rhizopogon" has also been published. In the recent past, molecular phylogenetic methods have allowed the revision of the taxonomic concepts of the genus "Rhizopogon" Modern classification. Modern taxonomic concepts of the genus "Rhizopogon" recognize five subgenera of "Rhizopogon". These are subgenus "Rhizopogon", subgenus "Versicolores", subgenus "Villosuli", subgenus "Amylopogon", and subgenus "Roseoli". Ecology. Mammalian diet and spore dispersal. "Rhizopogon" species have been established as a common component in the diet of many small mammals as well as deer in Western North America. The viability of "Rhizopogon" spores is maintained and may even  be increased after mammalian gut passage, making mammals an important dispersal vector for "Rhizopogon". Disturbance ecology. "Rhizopogon" species are common members of the fungal communities that colonize the roots of trees during seedling establishment and persist into old growth stands. "Rhizopogon" spores are long lived in soil and the spores of some species can persist for at least four years with an increase in viability over time. "Rhizopogon" seems to be especially common upon the roots of establishing tree seedlings following disturbance such as fire or logging. "Rhizopogon" are also abundant colonizers of pot cultivated and field cultivated conifer seedlings  growing in soil from conifer stands that lacked observations of "Rhizopogon" upon the roots of mature trees. These finding suggest that "Rhizopogon" species are an important factor in the recovery of conifer forests following disturbance. Invasive facilitator. "Rhizopogon" species have been shown to have a global distribution in the Homogenocene. The enzymes exuded from some species within the subgenus amylopogon is essential in activating seed germination in some species of Monotropoideae, such as "Pterspora andromedeae" . This makes Rhizopogon an obligatory host to species like "P. andromedeae." The exoenzymatic activity also confers higher competitive advantages to host species, mainly within the  genus "Pinus," by helping to break down nutrients within the soil. The presence of Rhizopogon in soil facilitates "Pinus" as an invasive species. This exoenzymatic activity is nitrogen limited. In the case of "R. amylopogon" parasitized by "P. andromedeae" the nitrogen cost of exoenzymatic production is in part paid for by bacteria within the family Burkholderiaceae that is hosted by "P. andromedeae" Ethnomycology. Forestry. The first intentional use of "Rhizopogon" species in forestry occurred in the early part of the 20th century when "Rhizopogon luteolus" was deliberately introduced into "Pinus radiata" plantations in Western Australia after it was observed to  improve tree growth. Since that time, "Rhizopogon" species have been widely studied as a component of managed forests. "Rhizopogon" species have been noted as common members of the ectomycorrhizal community colonizing tree roots of pine and Douglas-fir timber plantations. Naturally occurring "Rhizopogon roseolus" ("=rubescens") spores have been shown to out-compete the spores of other ectomycorrhizal fungi in pine plantations even when competing spores were directly inoculated onto seedlings. The survival rate and performance of pine and Douglas-fir plantation seedlings are increased after inoculation with "Rhizopogon" species. Gastronomy. Though many species of "Rhizopogon" are considered edible, most  are not held in high culinary esteem. A notable exception is "Rhizopogon roseolus" ("=rubescens") which is considered a delicacy in east Asia and especially in Japan where it is traditionally known as Shoro. Techniques for the commercial cultivation of this fungus in pine plantations have been developed and applied with successful results in Japan and New Zealand.