2008-'09 - Kerala Forest Research Institute

Annual Report 2008-09
Chlorophyllum molybdites
Termitomyces sp.
dwelling; 320(27%), wood inhabiting (lignicolous) and 630 (53%), terrestrial. Of
the 320 lignicolous members, 95% were from the rotting wood and the rest were
from roots, stems or bark of living trees.
A large number of macromycetes collected were specifically associated with certain
tree species forming ectomycorrhizal association. Several species belonging to
Amanita, Inocybe, Boletus, Russula, Laccaria, Lactarius, Cantharellus, Scleroderma,
Pisolithus, Lycoperdon, were collected from natural forests and forest plantations
which are mostly ectomycorrhizal. In the terrestrial habitat, the most common
and dominant genera collected are Termitomyces, Lepiota, Amanita, Agaricus,
Russula, Laccaria, Inocybe, and Hygrocybe. The dominant and commonly
encountered lignicolous genera include: Pleurotus, Lentinus, Gymnopilus, Hydropus,
Marasmius, Marasmiellus, Crepidotus, Pluteus, Auricularia. The frequently
encountered polypore genera include: Fomitopsis, Phellinus, Trametus, Microporus,
Polyporus, Hexagonia, Ganoderma; the major litter dwelling genera encountered
are: Collybia, Mycena, Marasmius, Marasmiellus, and Psathyrella.
The coprophilous genera are rather poorly represented by Psilocybe, Agrocybe,
and Coprinus.The common Gasteromycetes species collected were: Aseroe, Clathrus,
Dictyophora, Scleroderma, Calvatia, Lycoperdon, Lysurius and Mutinus.
Macromycetes belonging to Ascomycete group include: Xylaria, Daldinia, Bulgaria,
and Cookenia.
Rust fungi of Kerala: Biodiversity and biosystematics
A total of 446 plant specimens infected by rust fungi were collected, processed and
identification of the rust fungi/host plants attempted. More than 200 host plant species
belonging to different families were found infected. Rust fungi usually infected healthy,
vigorously growing plants; if infections were small and limited to certain plant parts, they
were difficult to detect. Perennial, systemic infections caused deformities such as
Kerala Forest Research Institute
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