Melanogaster (fungus)

{{Short description|Genus of fungi}}

{{Other uses|Melanogaster (disambiguation)}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| image = Melanogaster tuberiformis 17757.jpg

| image_caption = Melanogaster tuberiformis

| taxon = Melanogaster (fungus)

| authority = Corda

| type_species = Melanogaster tuberiformis

| type_species_authority = Corda

| synonyms =

{{Genus list

| Argylium | Wallr.

| Uperhiza | Bosc

| Hyperrhiza | Bosc

| Bulliardia | Jungh.

| Bullardia | Jungh.

}}

| synonyms_ref = {{MycoBank|19214|name=Melanogaster}}

}}

File:Melanogaster Cross Section.jpg

Melanogaster is a genus of fungus that resemble truffles, and are often mistaken for them. However, they do not have the characteristic aroma and value of truffles, although some have been used culinarily. None are known to be poisonous.{{cite web |url=http://www.natruffling.org/faq.htm#poison |title=Frequently Asked Truffle Questions |author= |website=North American Truffling Society|access-date=1 March 2015}} The genus contains 25 species that collectively have a widespread distribution.{{cite book |vauthors=Kirk PM, Cannon PF, Minter DW, Stalpers JA |title=Dictionary of the Fungi. |url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryfungit00kirk |url-access=limited |edition=10th |publisher=CABI |location=Wallingford |year=2008|page=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryfungit00kirk/page/n424 414]|isbn=978-0-85199-826-8}}

A new polyene pigment, melanocrocin, has been isolated either from fruit bodies or mycelial cultures of the subterranean fungus Melanogaster broomeianus. The structure of the pigment was determined by spectroscopic methods and chemical transformations. Melanocrocin is the N-acyl derivative of L-phenylalanine methyl ester with a polyolefinic carboxylic acid.{{cite journal |vauthors=Aulinger K, Besl H, Spiteller P, Spiteller M, Steglich W |title=Melanocrocin, a polyene pigment from Melanogaster broomeianus (Basidiomycetes) |journal=Z. Naturforsch. C |volume=56 |issue=7–8 |pages=495–98 |year=2001 |pmid=11531079 |doi=10.1515/znc-2001-7-803 |s2cid=41177931 |doi-access=free }}