Host specificity of some wood decaying-fungi in moist deciduous forests of Kerala, India

Main Article Content

A. Muhammed Iqbal
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1143-2584
Kattany Vidyasagaran
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0663-3477
Narayan Ganesh
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3641-573X

Abstract

The low diversity tropical forest is dominated by host specialized wood decaying fungi (Hymenochaetales, Polyporales) with narrow host range.  To understand whether or not wood decaying fungi in a highly diverse tropical moist deciduous forest have any kind of host specialization, sporophores of 22 species of wood decaying fungi were recorded on 17 tree species in three seasons viz., pre monsoon, monsoon and post monsoon from the moist deciduous forests of Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India.  Only two of the 22 species with three or more records showed signs of host specialization.  In the case of other fungi, the number of host tree species increased with increasing number of occupied or colonized logs.  The findings support the assumption that most of the wood decaying fungi have broad host ranges in highly diverse forest types in the tropics.

Article Details

Section
Short Communications
Author Biographies

A. Muhammed Iqbal, College of Forestry Kerala Agricultural University Vellanikkara Thrissur 680 656 Kerala

Research Scholar Department Of FOrest Management and Utilization

Kattany Vidyasagaran, Dean, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala, India

Dean, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala, India

Narayan Ganesh, Associate Professor Department of Botany Sree Krishna College, Calicut University, Guruvayur, Thrissur, Kerala, India Email: pnganeshskc@rediffmail.com 9497800821

Associate Professor
Department of Botany
Sree Krishna College,
Calicut University, Guruvayur, Thrissur, Kerala, India
Email: pnganeshskc@rediffmail.com
9497800821

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