CHAPTER NO. 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Fungal Diversity and Conservation 2 1.2 Aphyllophorales 3-4 1.3 Maharashtra 4-7 1.3.1 The 34 districts of Maharashtra State 6 1.3.2 Sacred groves in Maharashtra 6-7 1.3.3 Flora of Deccan or Desh 7 1.4 Western Ghats 7-10 1.4.1 Geology 8-9 1.4.2 Physiography 9 1.4.3 Classification of Deccan Trap Basalt 9-10 1.5 Pune District 10-20 1.5.1 Physiography and Climate 10-11 1.5.2 Boundaries 11 1.5.3 Sub-divisions 11-12 1.5.4 Western Belt 12 1.5.5 Central Belt 12-13 1.5.6 Eastern Belt 13 1.5.7 Sahyadris 13-14 1.5.8 Minor Ranges 14-16 1.5.9 Geology General 16-17 1.5.10 Climate 17 1.5.11 Distribution by Talukas in Pune District 17-20 1.6 Aims and Objectives 20-21 1 CHAPTER NO. 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Fungal Diversity and conservation: Fungi are among the most important organism in the world, not only because of their vital roles in ecosystem functions but also because of their influence on humans and human-related activities. Fungi are essential to such crucial activities as decomposition, nutrient cycling, and nutrient transport and are indispensable for achieving sustainable development (Palm and Chapela 1998). Fungi are also of great economic importance, having both positive and negative effects on human activities. Because of the diversity and abundance of fungi, and the vital roles they play in both natural and altered ecosystems as well as human- related activities, we believe that fungi must be included in considerations of biodiversity conservation. However it seems, they frequently have been ignored, because of their perceived intractableness. Fungi (Kingdom Fungi) and fungus-like groups (e.g. water molds, Kingdom Straminopila; slime molds and relatives, Kingdom Protista) encompass an astounding breadth of taxa, morphologies (ranging from amoeba like protists and single-celled aquatic chytridiomycetes to large basidiomycete mushrooms), ecologies and life history strategies, yet only limited and incomplete information is available for most species, Current estimates of species number for fungi differ significantly (e.g., Hawksworth 1991), but 1.5 million species hypothesized by Hawksworth is a commonly used figure. If his estimate is correct, then less than 5% of the fungi have been described. To further complicate matters, fungi tend to form symbiotic relationships with plants and animals, necessitating consideration of the plant or animal host when treating obligate plant mutualists, such as mycorrhizal fungi and endophytes, plant pathogens, and animal-associated fungi. Although the diversity of fungi and fungus like organisms is daunting, we believe that variety, numbers, and importance mandate their inclusion in conservation dialogues and biodiversity projects. We also believe that they are tractable in a meaningful way. If the estimate is correct, then sites share enough species to make broad-scale inventory work possible yet harbours sufficient number of unique species to make valuable contributions to our understanding of fungi biodiversity and the ecological, evolutionary and genetic processes of these fungi and their associated organisms (Mueller Bills and Foster, 2004). 2 1.2 Aphyllophorales: The order proposed by Rea (after Patouillard) for basidiomycetes having macroscopic basidiocarps in which the hymenophore is flattened (Thelephoraceae), club-like (Clavariaceae), tooth like (Hydnaceae) or has the hymenium lining tubes (Polyporaceae) or sometimes on lamellae, the poroid or lamellate hymenophores being tough and not fleshy as in the Agaricales. Traditionally the order has had a core of 4 families (as indicated above) based on hymenophore shape but detailed microscopic studies of basidiocarp structure and molecular evidence have shown these groupings to be unnatural. Keys to 550 spp. in culture of Aphyllophorales as given by Stalpers (Kirk et al. 2008). It is an important group of Basidiomycota of about 1200 described species depending upon what is included in the order and there is debate on this question. It is almost certain that the group is polyphyletic, a topic that will be mentioned throughout this chapter. Without microscopic examination, sometimes it is difficult to recognize a thin oppressed basidiocarp. On the other hand, many species produce conspicuous basidiocarps that are visible even from a distance. The common names given to Aphyllophorales badsidiocarps are based on the variously shaped, usually large basidiocarps and the tissues directly supporting the hymenia. However, many interesting species go unnoticed on the underside of dead wood. Collectively, the order Aphyllophorales can be grouped as those hymenomycetes that possess holobasidia but usually lack gills. The hymenia are borne on definite gymnocarpous- basidiocarps. (Gymnocarpous means that the hymenium is exposed while the spores are still immature) This is in contrast to angiocarpous basidiocarps produced by gasteroid forms in which the fertile layer is enclosed by the basidiocarps until after the spores have matured. In Aphyllophorales species the hymenium may be found on one side of the basidiocarp (unilateral) or all over the surface (amphigenous). The hymenophore and its overlying hymenial layer may be smooth, ridged, waited, toothed, pored or lamellate. If pores or lamellae are present, the texture of the basidiocarp may be papery, leathery, or woody, but usually not soft and putrescent (subject to decay), as in the mushrooms and boletes of the order Agaricales. The large group is taxonomically problematic and one of the challenges that faces mycologists working on these fungi is delimiting monophyletic groups and determining their 3 FIGURE -1 ^ MAP-1 INDIA Map of India showing Western Ghat's Arabian Bay of Bengal Sea Western Ghats Indian Ocean Map of India Showing Western Ghats Map of Western Ghat's Specific of India ancestor-descendent relationships. Much is left to learn about the biology of these fungi. The major importance of the species of Aphyllophorales as a whole is their saprobic activities as decomposers, particularly in the degradation of cellulose and lignin. Although most species are saprobic in soil, litter, bark, dead wood, or the non-conducting xylem (heart wood) of living trees, some species may be truly parasitic or pathogenic on shade and forest trees, non-woody crops, nonvascular plants and other fungi including lichen-forming fungi. The group also contains mycorrhizal forms associated with forest trees. Many Aphyllophorales species decay wood of trees that are already dead, but some, primarily species in the family’s Polyporaceae, Hymenochaetaceae, Stereaceae and Hericiaceae, are specialized to enter wounds in living trees and to make their way to the heartwood. These organisms help to prepare the way by a series of physical and chemical changes that overcome the natural defenses of the tree. (Alexopoulos et al. 2002). 1.3 M aharashtra: This state occupies a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau in the Western peninsular part of the subcontinent. Its shape roughly resembles a triangle, with the 725 kms Western coastline forming the base and the interior narrowing to a blunt apex some 804.672 kms to the East. It has an area of 307,713.897 sq. kms. It is surrounded by the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka (formerly Mysore) and, on the West, the Arabian Sea.(Figure 1, Map 1) Maharashtra state was part of Bombay Presidency during the British rule, subsequently it formed part of Bombay State. The present state of Maharashtra was formed on 1st May, 1960. Its political boundary extends from Mumbai to Gadchiroli and Dhule to Sindhudurg and Kolhapur districts. It is about 800 kms East-West and 700 kms North-South, lying between 22° 1’ to 16°4’ N latitude and 72°6’ to 80°9’ E longitude. The area of Western Ghats of Maharashtra known as 'Sahyadris’ (Figure 1, Map 1) lies between 72°61’ to 74°40’ E and 15°60’ to 20°75’ N. The North-South run of Western Ghats is 750 kms and average breadth is 80 kms. The ghat region traverses 11 districts viz., Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Dhule, Nasik, Ahmednagar, Pune, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur. The ghats receive high rainfall (2500-4400 mms) and are densely forested. They also constitute the main watershed of the Deccan, feeding the great East 4 FIGURE-2 ^ MAP-2 Map of Maharashtra State Showing Major Regions ♦ ♦JK ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Nagpur (%%*V%a!gaon Amravati Gondiya fi Wardhj Yavatmal Chandrapi mm m mw^ Gadchiroli • •• Thine* • #S ••••••• • • • § Raig»d '■ • • • • • • Vidarbha Ratnagijj ■I i f Marathwada Desh/ Deccan * ^ Khandesh Sindhudurg Map Showing Maharashtra State - Major Regions * * * * Konkan Map of Maharashtra State Showing Forest Cover MADHYA PRADESH GUJARAT Dhule AmravaU J a lg a o n W ardha W ashim T. A u ra n g a b a d Jalna A hm ednagar P a rb h a n r N anded ANDHRA PRADESH Latur ARABIAN SEA H i Dense forest | Open forest ShW apur ■ Scrub Non-forest Water-bodies \— -1 District boundary K olhapur State boundary KARNATAKA Forest Cover of Maharashtra flowing rivers of Godavari, Krishna and their numerous tributaries, as well as smaller and shorter rivers flowing into the Arabian sea. The Western face of the ghats is cut by deep ravines and cayons. Between the foot hills and the Arabian Sea lies a narrow strip (64.37376 kms in width) of rugged land broken by numerous rapid flowing rivers and streams, creeks and isolated ranges of hills. The rainfall in this area ranges between 1900-2500 mms a year. The Maharashtra plateau is a table-land, it accounts for major portion of State’s area; it slopes gradually away from the Eastern sides of the Ghats. It is made up of an impervious base of basaltic rocks overlaid with the Deccan lavas. The flora of Maharashtra is heterogeneous in composition.