ROOPAK GOSWAMI
Shillong, Nov 5: The bright scarlet to orange-red mushroom from Meghalaya will bowl you over.
In a notable boost to India’s biodiversity catalog, researchers have identified a mushroom species previously found only in China, now spotted in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. The mushroom, Leccinellum sinoaurantiacum, stands out for its bright scarlet to orange-red hues and unique features.
Discovered under Castanopsis trees in Meghalaya’s sub-temperate broadleaf forests, this is the first documentation of this species in India, adding valuable insight into the nation’s mycological diversity.
Led by researchers Kanad Das and Alfredo Vizzini, the study used multigene molecular techniques combined with morphological analysis, distinguishing L. sinoaurantiacum from other species. The research effort identified five new mushroom species, Leccinellum bothii, Phylloporus himalayanus, Phylloporus smithii, Porphyrellus uttarakhandae and Retiboletus pseudoater from Uttarakhand in the Himalayan regions. These findings emphasize the unexplored biodiversity of India’s mountainous ecosystems, particularly in Northeast India, which continues to reveal ecologically important and previously undocumented species. The study was published recently in Scientific Reports journal.
Mushrooms are macroscopic fruiting bodies of certain fungi. On the other hand, a fungus is any member of the kingdom of fungi that mainly includes yeasts, moulds, and mushrooms. Mushrooms develop over the ground while fungi can grow below the ground. Besides, all mushrooms are fungi, but not all fungi produce mushrooms.
The bright scarlet to orange-red mushroom stands out for its vivid color and unique morphological characteristics. Previously, this species was known only in parts of China. This marks the first documentation of this species in India, adding valuable data to the nation’s biodiversity catalog.
It has a sticky cap when wet, and yellow pore surfaces. These characteristics, along with molecular evidence, confirm its identity and distinctness from other species in the area. The study applied a multigene molecular approach, using genetic markers such as ITS and LSU, to differentiate this species from related ones. This advanced method provides clarity on its taxonomic position and adds to the genetic database of fungi in India.
The mushroom is ectomycorrhizal, meaning it forms a symbiotic association with local trees, particularly Castanopsis species. This relationship is essential for forest health as it aids in nutrient exchange between soil and plants, supporting forest ecosystems in the sub-temperate regions of Meghalaya.
The survey highlights the potential for discovering new fungal species in the unique ecosystems of India’s mountainous and subtropical forests. Researchers note that Leccinellum sinoaurantiacum and the other newly described species play essential ecological roles, particularly as ectomycorrhizal fungi that form symbiotic relationships with trees.
The survey highlights the potential of Northeast India as a hotspot for undiscovered species and underscores the ecological and scientific significance of Meghalaya’s forests and contributes to the understanding of India’s mycological diversity.
In 2020, the sighting of a “glowing mushroom” Roridomyces phyllostachydis in Meghalaya had caught the attention of all. It was found near a stream in Meghalaya’s Mawlynnong in East Khasi Hills district and later at Krang Shuri in West Jaintia Hills district.
A study done on 2014 to generate information on the mushroom diversity in Meghhalaya found a total of 22 mushrooms. The study was done from Shyrwat and Upper Shillong Reserve Forests of Meghalaya. “Though a few edible mushrooms have been reported from Meghalaya; the region as such still remains to be entirely unexplored. Further investigations are required to unveil the macrofungal diversity that may provide better understanding on the species diversity of these wild edibles” the study had said.
