Two fruitbodies each of Russula messapica and Macowanites messapicoides, identified by morphological characters, were screened for polymorphism in the ITS and the IGS of their ribosomal DNA, as well as in mitochondrial rDNA by RFLP analysis of PCR-products. The two species were monomorphic for all markers with the exception of the IGS. This limited genetic differentiation indicates a close relationship between these two species. The overall correspondence of the RFLPs between R. messapica and M. messapicoides adds molecular evidence to the relatedness of Russula and Macowanites, and suggests the possibility that M. messapicoides is recently derived from R. messapica.