Ryan P. O’Donnell
@rpodonnell.bsky.social
Mycologist & botanist @EcoEvo_ANU | Orchids & their mycorrhizal fungi: phylogenomics, genomes, speciation, popgen, systematics & taxonomy | looking for a postdoc 👀 | rpodonnell.github.io 🍄🌿🌷📖🇵🇭🏳️🌈∞
Thanks to everyone who came along/tuned in to my PhD exit seminar! What a thing to do at the end of almost four years. So close to submitting, just need to tidy up this last chapter and I’m done! PS does anyone need a mycology/botany genomics/systematics postdoc? 👀
September 12, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Thanks to everyone who came along/tuned in to my PhD exit seminar! What a thing to do at the end of almost four years. So close to submitting, just need to tidy up this last chapter and I’m done! PS does anyone need a mycology/botany genomics/systematics postdoc? 👀
We also found a distinct difference in the way certain names are used in the literature: pathogen researchers are more likely to use Rhizoctonia and Thanatephorus; while orchid mycorrhizal researchers are more likely to use Ceratobasidium and Ceratorhiza.
June 24, 2025 at 11:13 AM
We also found a distinct difference in the way certain names are used in the literature: pathogen researchers are more likely to use Rhizoctonia and Thanatephorus; while orchid mycorrhizal researchers are more likely to use Ceratobasidium and Ceratorhiza.
We reiterate the fact that the genera within Ceratobasidiaceae are paraphyletic, and formalise the recognition of a single genus; Rhizoctonia. We present 32 new combinations, to make a total of 52 accepted species of Rhizoctonia.
June 24, 2025 at 11:01 AM
We reiterate the fact that the genera within Ceratobasidiaceae are paraphyletic, and formalise the recognition of a single genus; Rhizoctonia. We present 32 new combinations, to make a total of 52 accepted species of Rhizoctonia.
At long last, our manuscript ‘Rise up, Rhizoctonia: moving to one fungus, one name in the Ceratobasidiaceae’ has finally been published in Persoonia 🎉
Here we resolve several longstanding taxonomic issues within Ceratobasidiaceae and present a unified Rhizoctonia
www.persoonia.org/images/Volum...
Here we resolve several longstanding taxonomic issues within Ceratobasidiaceae and present a unified Rhizoctonia
www.persoonia.org/images/Volum...
June 24, 2025 at 10:54 AM
At long last, our manuscript ‘Rise up, Rhizoctonia: moving to one fungus, one name in the Ceratobasidiaceae’ has finally been published in Persoonia 🎉
Here we resolve several longstanding taxonomic issues within Ceratobasidiaceae and present a unified Rhizoctonia
www.persoonia.org/images/Volum...
Here we resolve several longstanding taxonomic issues within Ceratobasidiaceae and present a unified Rhizoctonia
www.persoonia.org/images/Volum...
26 freshly sequenced whole genomes of undescribed orchid-associated Rhizoctonia spp. 🤙 14 more genomes to go and then I’m on the home stretch for the PhD 🫨
May 7, 2025 at 5:03 AM
26 freshly sequenced whole genomes of undescribed orchid-associated Rhizoctonia spp. 🤙 14 more genomes to go and then I’m on the home stretch for the PhD 🫨
After 372 days since submission, and 14 reviewers who committed to reviewing but didn’t wind up submitting a review, our Rhizoctonia nomenclature manuscript has finally been accepted for publication in Persoonia! 🥲
March 13, 2025 at 8:08 AM
After 372 days since submission, and 14 reviewers who committed to reviewing but didn’t wind up submitting a review, our Rhizoctonia nomenclature manuscript has finally been accepted for publication in Persoonia! 🥲
Had such a great time over the weekend talking with artist Keg de Souza and panel chair Richard Morecroft about fungi and the intersections of art and science for ‘Magic Mycelium’ at the Bundanon Art Museum - such an incredible art space and landscape.
March 11, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Had such a great time over the weekend talking with artist Keg de Souza and panel chair Richard Morecroft about fungi and the intersections of art and science for ‘Magic Mycelium’ at the Bundanon Art Museum - such an incredible art space and landscape.
At long last, the final typeset version of our Diurideae manuscript has finally been published in Systematic Biology! Check it out at doi.org/10.1093/sysb...
March 5, 2025 at 8:51 PM
At long last, the final typeset version of our Diurideae manuscript has finally been published in Systematic Biology! Check it out at doi.org/10.1093/sysb...
In no particular order, here are my favourite books from 2024:
January 1, 2025 at 12:43 AM
In no particular order, here are my favourite books from 2024:
Finally deactivated my X account 🎉
December 29, 2024 at 3:20 AM
Finally deactivated my X account 🎉
Stumbled upon this Orthoceras while looking for Pterostylis in the swamps at Dharawal. A species-poor genus containing only two species (one being O. strictum, pictured), sister to Diuris in the subtribe Diuridinae.
December 19, 2024 at 9:39 PM
Stumbled upon this Orthoceras while looking for Pterostylis in the swamps at Dharawal. A species-poor genus containing only two species (one being O. strictum, pictured), sister to Diuris in the subtribe Diuridinae.
Boy did I have to work for this one. I think swamp might be my least favourite kind of habitat. Here’s Pterostylis uliginosa, standing about 20cm tall.
December 17, 2024 at 9:08 PM
Boy did I have to work for this one. I think swamp might be my least favourite kind of habitat. Here’s Pterostylis uliginosa, standing about 20cm tall.
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 16 / 20
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 16 / 20
December 15, 2024 at 12:15 PM
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 16 / 20
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 16 / 20
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 15 / 20
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 15 / 20
December 12, 2024 at 12:13 PM
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 15 / 20
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 15 / 20
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 14 / 20
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 14 / 20
December 11, 2024 at 11:23 AM
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 14 / 20
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 14 / 20
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 13 / 20
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 13 / 20
December 9, 2024 at 10:38 AM
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 13 / 20
#BookSky💙📚
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#BookChallenge
Day 13 / 20
We sequenced a transcriptome for the rare mycoheterotrophic underground orchid Rhizanthella, which has eluded phylogenetic placement due to its degraded plastome. For the 1st time we recovered Rhizanthella as sister to Prasophyllum, supported by their exclusive partnerships with Ceratobasidiaceae
December 7, 2024 at 10:04 PM
We sequenced a transcriptome for the rare mycoheterotrophic underground orchid Rhizanthella, which has eluded phylogenetic placement due to its degraded plastome. For the 1st time we recovered Rhizanthella as sister to Prasophyllum, supported by their exclusive partnerships with Ceratobasidiaceae
We found an unprecedented level of fungal niche specialisation: whole genera, subtribes, and groups of related subtribes appear to utilise a single fungal family. Moreover, these relationships appear to have become increasingly specialised through time, evolving from a more gregarious ancestor.
December 7, 2024 at 9:55 PM
We found an unprecedented level of fungal niche specialisation: whole genera, subtribes, and groups of related subtribes appear to utilise a single fungal family. Moreover, these relationships appear to have become increasingly specialised through time, evolving from a more gregarious ancestor.
A lack of significant differences in alternate topology frequencies at key problematic nodes suggests that ILS is the main driver of discordance here. This, combined with our estimates that most subtribes diverged within ~10my, is suggestive of a rapid radiation in the tribe’s past
December 7, 2024 at 9:51 PM
A lack of significant differences in alternate topology frequencies at key problematic nodes suggests that ILS is the main driver of discordance here. This, combined with our estimates that most subtribes diverged within ~10my, is suggestive of a rapid radiation in the tribe’s past
We used transcriptomes and target capture sequences to infer and date a genus-level phylogeny for the Diurideae. All subtribes within Diurideae are estimated to have diverged before the E-O boundary. We also found high levels of phylogenetic discordance along the tribe’s backbone.
December 7, 2024 at 9:47 PM
We used transcriptomes and target capture sequences to infer and date a genus-level phylogeny for the Diurideae. All subtribes within Diurideae are estimated to have diverged before the E-O boundary. We also found high levels of phylogenetic discordance along the tribe’s backbone.
The placement of certain subtribes like Prasophyllinae and Acianthinae has been particularly variable, regardless of inference method, or what kind/how much genetic data is used.
December 7, 2024 at 9:36 PM
The placement of certain subtribes like Prasophyllinae and Acianthinae has been particularly variable, regardless of inference method, or what kind/how much genetic data is used.
The Australian terrestrial orchid flora is dominated by the Diurideae which contains ~900-1200 sp. depending on your taxonomic flavour. Notably, the tribe contains an unusually high number of species engaged in sexually deceptive pollination, and a high level of mycorrhizal niche specialisation.
December 7, 2024 at 9:27 PM
The Australian terrestrial orchid flora is dominated by the Diurideae which contains ~900-1200 sp. depending on your taxonomic flavour. Notably, the tribe contains an unusually high number of species engaged in sexually deceptive pollination, and a high level of mycorrhizal niche specialisation.
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 12 / 20
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 12 / 20
December 6, 2024 at 9:32 AM
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 12 / 20
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 12 / 20
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 11 / 20
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 11 / 20
December 5, 2024 at 10:08 AM
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 11 / 20
#BookSky💙📚
#Books
#BookChallenge
Day 11 / 20
Went out looking for orchids, found bagworms instead 🤷🏻
December 4, 2024 at 8:44 AM
Went out looking for orchids, found bagworms instead 🤷🏻