IJSR - International Journal of Scientific Research

DEENA MERIA JOSE; NIHARIKA JOHNEY

Volume : VI, Issue : VII, July - 2017

DIVERSITY OF MUSHROOMS IN THE FOOTHILL OF WESTERN GHATS A STUDY FROM THE EASTERN PART OF MALAPPURAM, KERALA.

Deena Meria Jose, Niharika Johney

Abstract :

Fungi include many common forms such as mushroom, toadstools, puffballs, shelf fungi, moulds, rusts, and smuts etc. The present study is an attempt to analyze the macrofungal diversity of the eastern part of Mlappuram district. Survey work was carried out from June to october 2016.. Opportunistic sampling of macrofungi was carried out from as many habitats in the areas as possible. On basis of morphological and microscopic studies macrofungal species were identified. A total of 90 macrofungi belonging to 30 families were observed. The occurrence of maximum number of species was found to be greater in July to October, during the humid season. Fruit bodies were obtained from different habitats like soil, fresh bark, decaying wood, animal dung, humus, burned leaf litter, compost etc. Some of them were edible but the majority was inedible. The order Aphyllophorales was represented by 22 families. Tricholomataceae was the predominant family having maximum number (12) of members. Polyporaceae and Ganodermataceae were represented by 8 members each in the total accession. The largest genus represented was Ganoderma with 8 species.