Tapping Unexplored Macrofungi: Occurrence and Distribution of Amanita, Russula and Termitomyces Species in the Different Forest Divisions of Odisha, India

Abstract

A systematic study was done on the wild mushroom species of the forest regions of Odisha with the objective to generate information on macrofungal diversity at different forest divisions of Odisha. Six major forest divisions of Odisha viz. Northern tropical semi evergreen forest (Site-1), Northern tropical dry deciduous forest (Site-2), Secondary moist miscellaneous semi evergreen forest (Site-3), Northern tropical semi evergreen forest (Site-4), Mixed forests having combination of Northern tropical semi evergreen forest and Tropical moist deciduous forest (Site-5), Tropical dry deciduous forest and Northern tropical semi evergreen forest (Site-6) were the sites for experiment emphasizing on Amanita, Russula and Termitomyces species. Nineteen different macrofungal populations were observed where 6 species of Amanita, 8 species of Russula and 5 species of Termitomyces were recorded from different habitats. Russula brevipes, Russula rosea and Russula lepida were very luxuriantly present in (Site-5). The distribution frequency was the highest (53.84%) in Amanita vaginata among all other species of Amanita. TheAmanita craseoderma and Amanita chrysoleuca were observed with the least distribution (2.56%). Termitomyces occurred in many places of Odisha and was considered as a palatable mushroom. Occurrence of T. eurrhizus was the highest (30.76%) in Odisha forests while Termitomyces microcarpus showed the least distribution (2.56%). The findings of the study have concluded that the (Site 1,5,6) can be a potential site for the mushroom hunters.