Overview

The Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club uses DNA sequencing to help confirm mushroom identifications and document the true diversity of fungi in our region—especially species that cannot be reliably distinguished by appearance alone.

All members may submit specimens for consideration, though not every sample will be sent to the lab due to duplicate collections and our limited annual sequencing budget. To make the best use of these resources, we prioritize groups that are difficult to identify morphologically, under-documented in our region, or of particular scientific interest.

Priority groups include:

  • Boletes
  • Polypores
  • Cortinarius
  • Coral fungi
  • Ascomycetes
  • Inocybaceae
  • Non-gilled Basidiomycetes (club, chanterelle, tooth, and jelly fungi)
  • Russulas
  • Sequestrate fungi (truffle-like or other underground fungi)
  • Anything tiny!

We also encourage submissions of fungi listed on the IUCN Red List or species included in the Fungal Diversity Survey Northeast Rare Fungi Challenge.

Please check this page regularly if you plan to submit specimens, as the protocol provided by The MycoMap Network gets updated periodically. We are also exploring local pre-processing of specimens to reduce costs and give members a more hands-on role in the sequencing process.

General process for turning a field specimen in for DNA

Collect and Document

  • Find a suitable specimen in the field.
  • Take clear photos including habitat, cap, stem, spore surface, and base, along with GPS location.
  • Record observations such as bruising, odor, taste (“spit test”), spore color, substrate, and associated trees.
  • Chemical tests may also be performed if desired.
  • Add microscopy if you are capable.

Dry the Specimen

  • Dry the specimen in a dehydrator at 95–100°F until completely “cracker dry.” If necessary, slice larger specimens to assure they get completely dry.
  • Remove excess dirt and avoid including substrate (wood, soil, leaves, etc.).
  • Submit full specimen (or multiple, in various life stages, if possible)

Upload and Label

  • Upload photos and habitat information to iNaturalist.
  • Try getting your specimen identification as close as possible to the level “Family.” You do not need to have it all the way to species or “research grade.”
  • Place the dried specimen and a voucher slip (available at club meetings or walks) with the iNaturalist observation number into a 6.5 × 3.25 inch snack-size zip-lock bag (no slide zipper).
  • Do not write on the bag, staple it, or include additional items.

Submit the Specimen

  • Bring the labeled sample to a DNA Committee member at the next club event.
  • The specimen will be recorded in the club’s sequencing database.

Sample Selection and Sequencing

  • The committee typically reviews submissions twice per year and sends selected specimens to The MycoMap Network.
  • Not all samples are sequenced due to duplicates, specimen quality, or budget limitations.

Results and Data Sharing

  • When sequences are successful, results are submitted to GenBank and MycoPortal, and are linked back to the original iNaturalist observation.

Workflow for Large Club Forays

(e.g., Mushroom Identification Day, Lincoff Foray, Camping Trip and DCNR Grant Collection Days)

Participating in our DNA sequencing project is a vital part of our club’s scientific mission. For each event, a dedicated project is created within iNaturalist to organize and track the observations collected during the foray.

Note: Not all members participating in large club events are involved with the DNA sequencing project or maintain an account on iNaturalist. At these events, volunteers are available to photograph and document donated specimens as they are placed on the identification tables.

Option 1: The Full Submission (Best for Tracking Results)

Follow these steps if you want the DNA results to be linked directly to your personal iNaturalist account.

  1. When you find a mushroom, assign it a provided Voucher Slip that is numbered for that specific event.
  2. Take clear photos of the mushroom in its habitat. Ensure you record the GPS coordinates.
  3. Post your find to iNaturalist. Once posted, write your iNaturalist ID number onto your voucher slip.
  4. Put the mushroom and place it (with the completed slip) on the ID Table at the event.

Option 2: Donate Your Find (No iNat Account Required)

If you aren’t on iNaturalist but find something spectacular, you can still contribute!

  1. Bring your mushroom to the ID table at the event.
  2. A DNA committee member or volunteer may select your find. They will take the necessary photos and upload them to the club’s event project under their own account for DNA submission.
  3. Important Disclaimer: If you do not include your own iNaturalist ID on the slip, we have no way to trace that specific specimen back to you to report individual results.

The Scientific Process (Behind the Scenes)

Once a specimen is selected for the project, it undergoes a rigorous preservation process:

  1. The full specimen gets dehydrated at 95–115°F until “cracker dry” (bag 1) This specimen, if selected, may go to the Herbarium at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
  2. A small portion of the specimen is collected and separated for DNA sequencing via The MycoMap Network (bag 2)
  3. Mushrooms are logged into the WPMC Club Database and stored in zip-lock bags and labeled accordingly.
  4. The small portion specimens mentioned above under #2 are shipped to The MycoMap Network. Please note that analysis can take a long time to get results depending on lab volume.
  5. Successful results are uploaded to GenBank and MycoPortal, contributing to the global understanding of fungal biodiversity.

Special Occasions (e.g., Continental MycoBlitz (sponsored and hosted by The MycoMap Network)

The MycoMap Network annually sponsors several Continental MycoBlitzs a year. You must follow their protocol as defined on their page to participate. You are encouraged to turn in your MycoBlitz submissions to a DNA Committee member and we will gladly record your submissions in the Club database as well as mail out your submissions with the rest of the club DNA specimens. On The MycoMap Network’s site there is a suggested contribution of $3 per specimen for submission for the MycoBlitz; please follow the directions provided on their page to make this contribution.

Our presence on The MycoMap Network

https://mycomap.org/mycomap-wpmc

Club Database

Because the club pays for the DNA testing, the database gives us a quick way to look back frequently at what got sent out and put these results into publications for the club (i.e., newsletters, slideshows during meetings, etc.).