Molecular phylogeny of three desert truffles from Iran based on ribosomal genome

The ITS region including the 5.8S gene of rDNA of three desert truffle species were amplified using ITS4 and ITS1 primers. The ITS sequences were compared to those of other related authentic sequences obtained from GenBank. Among 12 specimens studied, seven isolates corresponded to Terfezia claveryi reported by other authors. Iranian T. claveryi specimens had an average similarity of 99.4% (range 98.7–100%) among themselves, while all T. claveryi sequences analyzed had an average of 95.2% (range 87.2–100%) similarity. Four specimens corresponded to Trimania pinoyi, being a sister taxon to Tirmania nivea, of which only one specimen could be studied. Iranian T. pinoyi specimens had an average of 99.9% similarity (range 99.8–100%) among themselves, and 97.2% (range 93.1–100%) between all T. pinoyi sequences compared. All T. nivea sequences, including Iranian specimen, had an average of 96.6% similarity (range 92.2–99.8%). T. claveryi and T. pinoyi are widespread in the country and are mostly associated with Helianthemum salicifolium and Carex sp. Iranian truffles flora resembles those of Mediterranean region and South coast of the Persian Gulf.