Macrofungi in two botanical gardens in southwestern India

This study reports 11 species of macrofungi in the botanical garden and arboretum of Mangalore University. Frequent species include Clathrus delicatus, Entoloma serrulatum and Tetrapyrgos nigripes in the botanical garden, and Collybia aurea and T. nigripes in the arboretum. Five species are edible (Collybia aurea, Lepista sp., Russula adusta, R. atropurpurea and Termitomyces microcarpus), one is medicinal (T. microcarpus) and two are ectomycorrhizal (Russula adusta and R. atropurpurea) with critically endangered endemic tree species Vateria indica (Dipterocarpaceae). Some macrofungi grow on bark, woody litter and leaf litter, while others were found on typical lateritic soils with organic matter. Termitomyces microcarpus was common in the faecal pellets of termites in the botanical garden. Brief descriptions of species based on field and laboratory observations, along with their substrates and distribution, are given.

2 6 M a r c h 2 0 1 7 | V o l .9 | N o .3 | P p . 9 9 6 2 -9 9 7 0 1 0 . 1 1 6 0 9 / j o t . 2 7 4 7 .9 .3 .9 9 6 2 -9 9 7 0 The Western Ghats are known for heritage value with vast landscapes and forests endowed with native and indigenous plants.These forests are especially rich in flowering trees, with 1,720 recorded species (in 54 genera) of which 8% (135 species) are endemic (Nair & Daniel 1986;Nayar 1996;Shetty & Kaveriappa 2001a).Endemics in the Western Ghats have also been recognized among woody plants, palms and gymnosperms (Ahmedullah & Nayar 1986;Renuka 1992;Shetty & Kaveriappa 2001b).Several endemic species were cultivated during 1992-1994 with the support of the MacArthur Foundation, Chicago in the arboretum and botanical garden of Mangalore University Campus.Eighty-two endemic plant species have been introduced and maintained (57 tree species, two bamboo species and 23 species of shrubs) in these gardens along with native flora.These gardens are now over 20 years old and have become excellent platforms for ecosystem and forestry-related studies.Recently, macrofungi have been reported from the arboretum those are not usually found in the coastal region (Karun & Sridhar 2014).Nearly 850 species of macrofungi have been reported from the Himalaya and Western Ghats of India (Manoharachary et al. 2006).An illustrated monograph by Mohanan (2011) documented up to 550 species in 166 genera and 51 families from Kerala State.The aim of this current study was to document interesting macrofungi in these botanical gardens, and provide a brief description of each species along with information regarding distribution and economic value.

Materials and Methods
Surveys were carried out periodically (June-October Macrofungi of Mangalore's botanical gardens Pavithra et al.

Results
Among the 11 macrofungi documented in this survey, Clathrus delicatus, Entoloma serrulatum and Tetrapyrgos nigripes in botanical garden and Collybia aurea and T. nigripes in arboretum were frequent, while Russula adusta, R. atropurpurea and Termitomyces microcarpus were common (Table 1).Tetrapyrgos nigripes was common to botanical garden as well as arboretum.Edible species include Collybia aurea, Lepista sp., Russula adusta, R. atropurpurea and Termitomyces microcarpus.Among them, Russula spp.were also ectomycorrhizal with critically endangered tree species Vateria indica belongs to Dipterocarpaceae.Some of the macrofungi grew on bark, woody litter and leaf litter, while others preferred typical lateritic soils with organic matter.T. microcarpus was common on the faecal pellets of termites in botanical garden.Brief description of each species based on field and laboratory observations along with their substrates and distribution in the Western Ghats have been given.
Fresh weight: Mature fruit body 7.0-14.5 g (n=6).Substrate: Moist soil interspersed with leaf litter and pebbles and also having ectomycorrhizal association with Vateria indica.
Fresh weight: Mature fruit body 0.02-0.1g(n=15).Substrate: Grows on decaying leaf midrib and veins and also on small twigs.

Discussion
The present study revealed several edible and ectomycorrhizal macrofungi from the lateritic regions of the southwestern coast of India complementing many studies carried out in the Western Ghats, west coast, and lateritic plateau of eastern India (e.g., Purkayastha & Chandra 1985;Natarajan et al. 2005;Farook et al. 2013;Pradhan et al. 2010Pradhan et al. , 2013a,b;,b;Manna & Roy 2014;Senthilarasu 2014;Greeshma et al. 2015;Karun & Sridhar 2016).A wide range of edible macrofungi has been reported from the eastern lateritic regions of India, and they constitute a major livelihood for the ethnic groups especially during wet season.Similarly, Purkayastha & Chandra (1985) recognized up to 50 edible mushrooms from the Western Ghats of India.Recently, 17 macrofungi have been reported as edible in the coastal region of southwestern India (Karun & Sridhar 2014).Traditional knowledge revealed that a few macrofungi will be consumed by the local people in the coastal region (e.g., Amanita sp., Astraeus hygrometricus, Termitomyces microcarpus and T. umkowaan) (Karun & Sridhar 2013, 2014;Ghate et al. 2014;Greeshma et al. 2015).Astraeus hygrometricus is common in the lateritic zones of the foothill of the Western Ghats and west coast regions (Greeshma et al. 2015;Pavithra et al. 2016).Pyasi et al. (2011) have also recorded this fungus from Sal forest of Jharsaguda, Odisha.Traditional knowledge of the local people on the edibility of wild mushrooms assumes utmost importance in nutrition of rural inhabitants.Natarajan et al. (2005) have reported up to 25 species of ectomycorrhizal fungi in dipterocarp stands in evergreen Kadamakkal reserve forest of the Western Ghats.They recorded a distinct pattern of succession of ectomycorrhizal fungi in young (3-7 years) and old (11-17 years) dipterocarp stands.Up to about 50% of the macrofungi in dipterocarp stands belongs to Russulaceae.Verma (2014) has recorded 18 species of Russula from the central India and some of them are ectomycorrhizal.Recently, up to 25 species of macrofungi were identified as ectomycorrhizal in the west coast region, but none were belongs to the genera Russula (Karun & Sridhar 2014).This may be due to lack of suitable host tree species in the area of survey, or many ectomycorrhizal fungi may prefer old growth forests.This warrants cultivation of native and endemic tree species to reap maximum benefits from the ectomycorrhizal fungi.Native as well as endemic tree species need special attention to follow their association with ectomycorrhizal fungi in view of developing silviculture for rehabilitation of the west coast region.
Other ecosystems of great interest to explore macrofungi in the west coast of India includes: sacred groves, mangroves, sand dunes, freshwater marshes, saltwater marshes, plantations, paddy fields and scrub jungles.Scrub jungles in high elevation are succumb for occasional fire during dry season (February-May).Surprisingly a variety of macrofungi crop up immediately on the onset of rainy season in fire impacted areas of scrub jungles needs more exploration on the impact of fire (Greeshma et al. 2015).Understanding the traditional knowledge and educating local dwellers on the multiple values of macrofungi (edible, ectomycorrhizal and medicinal) would be highly beneficial to support conservation measures of coastal ecosystems.
S h o r t C omm u n fi c a t fi o n M a c r o f u n g fi fi n tw o b o t a n fi c a l g a r d e n s fi n s o u t hw e s t e r n I n d fi a M u n d am o o l e P a v fi t h r a , K a n d fi k e r e R .S r fi d h a r & Amm a t a n d a A .G r e e s hm a T h r e a t e n e d T a x a T h e J o u r n a l o f T h r e a t e n e d T a x a fi s d e d fi c a t e d t o b u fi l d fi n g e v fi d e n c e f o r c o n s e r v a fi o n g l o b a l l y b y p u b l fi s h fi n g p e e r -r e v fi ew e d a r fi c l e s o n l fi n e e v e r y m o n t h a t a r e a s o n a b l y r a p fi d r a t e a t www .t h r e a t e n e d t a x a .o r g.A l l a r fi c l e s p u b l fi s h e d fi n J o T T a r e r e g fi s t e r e d u n d e r C r e a fi v e C omm o n s A t r fi b u fi o n 4 .0 I n t e r n a fi o n a l L fi c e n s e u n l e s s o t h e rw fi s e m e n fi o n e d .J o T T a l l ow s u n r e s t r fi c t e d u s e o f a r fi c l e s fi n a n y m e d fi um , r e p r o d u c fi o n , a n d d fi s t r fi b u fi o n b y p r o v fi d fi n g a d e q u a t e c r e d fi t t o t h e a u t h o r s a n d t h e s o u r c e o f p u b l fi c a fi o n .O P E N A C C E S S P a r t n e r www .t h r e a t e n e d t a x a .o r g I S S N 0 9 7 4 -7 9 0 7 ( O n l fi n e ) | I S S N 0 9 7 4 -7 8 9 3 ( P r fi n t ) B u fi l d fi n g e v fi d e n c e f o r c o n s e r v a fi o n g l o b a l l y J o u r n a l o f T h r e a t e n e d T a x a P u b l fi s h e r / H o s t F o r F o c u s , S c o p e , A fim s , P o l fi c fi e s a n d G u fi d e l fi n e s v fi s fi t h t p : / / t h r e a t e n e d t a x a .o r g / A b o u t _ J o T T .a s p F o r A r fi c l e S u bm fi s s fi o n G u fi d e l fi n e s v fi s fi t h t p : / / t h r e a t e n e d t a x a .o r g / S u bm fi s s fi o n _ G u fi d e l fi n e s .a s p F o r P o l fi c fi e s a g a fi n s t S c fi e n fi fi c M fi s c o n d u c t v fi s fi t h t p : / / t h r e a t e n e d t a x a .o r g / J o T T _ P o l fi c y _ a g a fi n s t _ S c fi e n fi fi c _M fi s c o n d u c t .a s p F o r r e p r fi n t s c o n t a c t < fi n f o@ t h r e a t e n e d t a x a .o r g > Berk. & Broome (Image 1A-D)*** Woody debris and bark (Calycopteris floribunda) -Collybia aurea (Beeli) Pegler (Image 1E-H)*** Decaying wood and twigs interspersed with leaf litter.Edible Entoloma serrulatum (Fr.)Hesler (Image 2A-D) *** Soil with pebbles and leaf litter -Lepiota echinella Quél.& G.E. Bernard (Image 2E-G)* Soil with leaf litter -Lepista sp.(Image 3A-D)* Soil with pebbles and leaf litter Edible Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus (Peck) Singer (Image 3E-G)* Laterite soil rich in pebbles -Lycoperdon lividum Pers.(Image 3H)* Soil with leaf litter -Russula adusta (Pers.)Fr. (Image 4A-C)** Black soil interspersed with leaf litter and pebbles; Roots (Vateria indica) Edible and ectomycorrhizal with Vateria indica Russula atropurpurea (Krombh.)Britzelm.(Image 4D-G)** Black soil with pebbles and leaf litter; Roots (Vateria indica) Edible and ectomycorrhizal with Vateria indica Termitomyces microcarpus (Berk.& Broome) R. Heim (Image 4H-J)** Faecal pellets of termites Edible and used to treat gonorrhea Tetrapyrgos nigripes (Fr.)E. Horak (Image 4K-M)*** Decaying twigs and leaf midrib/veins -

Image 1 .
White to egg-white immature and mature fruit bodies of Clathrus delicatus developed on woody debris (A-D); mature fruit bodies of Collybia aurea grown on decaying wood, twigs and leaf litter with creamish-white pileus, brown-white woolly stipe (E-G) and creamish gills (H) (Scale = 1cm).©

Image 4 .
Mature fruit bodies of Russula adusta ectomycorrhizal in Vateria indica showing creamish stipe (A), greyish-white pileus (B) and creamish gills (C); mature fruit bodies of Russula atropurpurea ectomycorrhizal in V. indica showing creamish-white stipe (D, E), bright red pileus (D-F) and creamish-yellow gills (G); mature fruit bodies of Termitomyces microcarpus grown on faecal pellets of termites showing creamish stipe (H), creamish-brown silky pileus (I) and creamish gills (J); mature fruit bodies of Tetrapyrgos nigripes grown on leaf and woody litter (K, L) showing white to black stipe (K), pileus with greyish-black centre with greyish periphery (L) and white to pinkish gills (M