A molecular approach to explore the extent of the threatened fungus Hypocreopsis rhododendri within wood

► We present PCR primers specific to the threatened fungus Hypocreopsis rhododendri. ► The primers can detect less than 0.0013 % H. rhododendri tissue in wood by mass. ► We failed to detect H. rhododendri mycelia in the wood underneath its sporocarps. ► The fungus is not present throughout woodland as wood-inhabiting mycelia. ► This suggests H. rhododendri is not a wood decay fungus but a mycoparasite.