کاوش در آرایه‌شناسی قارچ‌ها: به حداکثر رساندن قدرت تفکیک در تعیین توالی تک‌جایگاهی

Integrating Morphology with Smart Dataset Curation

In many research laboratories, financial and budgetary constraints require making strategic decisions when processing large collections of fungal isolates. When characterizing 186 endophytic strains from Avicennia marina, conducting multi-locus sequencing for every single isolate was not financially feasible. Instead, I had to maximize the taxonomic resolution achievable through targeted single-locus sequencing combined with rigorous morphological profiling.

Working primarily with single gene regions (such as the ITS rDNA barcode or specific protein-coding markers depending on the fungal group) means you cannot rely solely on automated sequence similarity. To overcome the resolution limits of single-locus data in complex genera, I adopted an integrative approach. Every isolate was first grouped into morphotypes based on detailed cultural characteristics across multiple media and calibrated microscopic measurements of conidiogenesis, spore septation, and mycelial structures.

By pairing high-precision micro-morphology with curated, clade-specific phylogenetic datasets (incorporating ex-type strains only), single-locus sequences provided reliable generic and species-level placements for the vast majority of our mangrove mycobiome. It taught me that careful microscopy and smart dataset curation are the best allies when optimizing molecular workflows under budget constraints.