Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2013) 2(12): 112-139 ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 2 Number 12 (2013) pp. 112-139 http://www.ijcmas.com Review Article An overview of Aphyllophorales (wood rotting fungi) from India Kiran Ramchandra Ranadive* Waghire College, Saswad, Tal-Purandar, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra (India) *Corresponding author A B S T R A C T K e y w o r d s During field and literature surveys, a rich mycobiota was observed in the vegetation of India. The heavy rainfall and high humidity favours the growth of Fungi; Aphyllophoraceous fungi. The present work materially adds to our knowledge of Aphyllophorales; Poroid and Non-Poroid Aphyllophorales from all over India. A total of more than Basidiomycetes; 190 genera of 52 families and total 1175 species of from poroid and non-poroid semi-evergreen Aphyllophorales fungi were reported from Indian literature till 2012.The checklist gives the total count of aphyllophoraceous fungal diversity from India which is also forest.. a valued addition for comparing aphyllophoraceous diversity in the world. Introduction Aphyllophorales order was proposed by in culture are recognized by Stalper. Rea, after Patouillard, for Basidiomycetes (Stalper,1978). having macroscopic basidiocarps in which the hymenophore is flattened Much of the literature of the order is based (Thelephoraceae), club-like on the traditional family groupings and as (Clavariaceae), tooth-like (Hydnaceae) or under the current re-arrangements, one has the hymenium lining tubes family may exhibit several different types (Polyporaceae) or some times on lamellae, of hymenophore (e.g. Gomphaceae has the poroid or lamellate hymenophores effuse, clavarioid, hydnoid and being tough and not fleshy as in the cantharelloid hymenophores). Reference Agaricales. Traditionally the order has had to the literature is complicated because a core of four families based on information about the genera of any one hymenophore shape, as described above, family may occur in apparently unrelated but recent detailed microscopic studies of monographs. The Aphyllophorales were basidiocarp structure has shown these not recognized as distinct group by the groupings to be unnatural and the early workers like Linneaus (1753). taxonomy of the order is at present in a Linneaus in Species plantarum, (1753), state of flux. Donk (1964), who which is considered the starting point of recognized 22 families are now followed, all botanical and now also fungal (Hawksworth et al.1991). Keys to 550 spp. nomenclature (Staflue, 1983) used Boletus 112 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2013) 2(12): 112-139 for all fungi with tubes or pores. He him (Fries, 1828) to the generic status. described 12 species belonging to the Fries recognized eight genera in total. But family Polyporaceae. soon the workers realised the necessity of segregating Fries s artificial and Persoon (1801) was the first to segregate heterogenous group into more natural the lamellate and poroid fungi. The fungi ones. Berkeley (1839) was probably the now classified in the Aphyllophorales best amongst the old masters who did his were placed by Persoon (1801) in the observations without the microscopic aids, order Hymenothecii. This order contained which were available to his successors. all the Basidiomycetes except the Karsten (1881 and 1889) and Bresadola Gasteromycetes and some Ascomycetes (1897) have used microscopic characters with which the Tremellales were placed in in their description of the fungi. Helvelloidei (Discomycetes). The order Up to the end of the 19th Century, all these Hymenothecii was based on the hymenial classifications were based on macro- configuration. The sub-order Agaricoidei morphological features of the sporophore. contained species with a lamellate Patouillard (1900) was the first mycologist (Amanita and Agaricus) or veined who used microscopic characters for the hymenophores (Merulius). The species delimitation of higher taxa. In his Essai with a tubulate or poroid hymenophore Taxonomique , Patouillard made were classified under the sub-order groupings in polypores on the basis of Boletoidei and included the Daedalea and such characters as detailed hyphal Boletus. The sub-order Hydnoidei had a morphology, structure of the pileus and toothed hymenophore and contained characters of basidia, spores and cystidia. Sistotrema and Hydnum. Species with an He divided the Basidiomycetes into even to papillate or warted hymenium Homobasidiomycetes with secondary were classified in sub-order spores and the Heterobasidiomycetes Gymnodermata, which included the without secondary spores. The genus Thelephora and Merisma. Finally Heterobasidiomycetes were further the species with fleshy elongate subdivided according to the septation of basidiocarps with a pileus and stipe were the basidia. Species with transversely placed in the sub-order Clavaeformes septate basidia were classified in the with the genus Clavaria and Geoglossum. Auriculariaceae, species with Persoon (1801) in his monumental work of longitudinally septate basidia in the Synopsis methodica fungorum , which Tremellaceae, and species with aseptate marks the beginning of the taxonomy of basidia in the Tulasnellaceae and the Hymenomycetes, mentioned over 70 Caloceraceae. species of the Polyporaceous fungi. The Homobasidiomycetes had non-septate Fries (1821) in his Systema basidia and were divided into four families Mycologicum accepted two genera for as follows the parasitic Exobasidiaceae, the polypores. His concepts were based on the gymnocarpous Aphyllophoraceae, the the type of hymenophore (basidiocarps). hemiangiocarpous Agaricaceae and the Fries created the sub-order Pileati , which angiocarpous Gasteromycetaceae. included the genera such as Agaricus, Patoulillard divided the Aphyllophoraceae Schizophyllum, Daedalea, Merulius, into two tribes namely: Favolus as the sub-genera of the genus Polyporus, Later, Favolus was raised by The Clavariales: Having an erect 113 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2013) 2(12): 112-139 basidiocarp which could be simple, who applied Corner s system in his paper branched or dendroid but never pileate or Notes on classification of Polyporaceae , with amphigenous hymenium. The (1946). Later, in a series of publications he Porohydnales: Having a resupinate emphasized the value of thorough analysis orpileate, sessile or stipitate basidiocarp of hyphal systems in the better and hymenium underneath the cap. The understanding of a species. Donk s series Porohydnales are subdivided into four sub on resupinate Hymenomycetes (1954, tribes, based on the form of hymenophore 1956 a, 1956 b, 1957, 1958) and which is cupulate in the Cyphellales, even Eriksson s studies on resupinate to warted in the Odonties, poroid in the Aphyllophorales of the Muddus National Pores, and toothed in the Hydne. Park in Sweden (1958), greatly altered the generic delimitation within the British mycologists, Berkeley (1839) Corticiaceae. Boidin (1958 b, 1959 a, b) described about five hundred and sixty published three essays on the genus polypores. It was rather difficult to survey Stereum and redescribed a number of the group and no comprehensive flora had genera. been written for any country. Prof. Murrill (1903 1915) felt the need for a manual of Lowe, monographed the American species the American species and was a pioneer of of Fomes (1957), Poria (1966), Tyromyces the long series Polyporaceae of North (1975), Reid (1965) monographed the America (1903 1908). Patouillard s stipitate steroid fungi of the world. Mass- system was also adopted by Bourdot and Geesteranus revised many of the hydnoid Galzin (1928), in their classical manual. fungi of the Eastern old world (1971). The They realised that several species which monographs by Eriksson of the genus they considered to be closely related, had Peniophora (1950), of Aleurodiscus by to be placed in different groups. Donk Parmasto s (1968) Systematic Survey of (1931, 1933) also fundamentally used the the Corticiaceae together with the Patouillardian system but his generic voluminous work of Eriksson and concepts were mainly based on Ryvarden on the Corticiaceae of North microscopical characters. Donk (1960) in Europe (1973, 1975, 1976) were his work considered the taxonomic status important contributions to our knowledge of all published genera until then. It has of this group of Basidiomycetes. Talbot in resulted in establishment of many his earlier work studied many specimens monotypic genera. His work is based on of Aphyllophorales from tropical countries Patouillard, Murrill and Berkeley, who which initiated him to publish the classical studied Aphyllophorales from different work of Study of some South African parts of the world. Corner (1932 a, b) resupinate Hymenomycetes (1951). He distinguished three possible types of published a review paper entitled Micro- hyphae which may be present in the morphology of Lower Hymenomycetes basidiocarps, namely, generative, skeletal (1954). and binding hyphae. Corner introduced the concept of hyphal system and thus This paper concerned with macro and opened a new era in the field of modern micro-morphological characters of taxonomy. Aphyllophorales, is still considered as an The major significance of Corner s important literature in understanding the findings was first realized by Cunningham sexual, accessory and hyphal configuration 114 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2013) 2(12): 112-139 of basidiocarp of Aphyllophorales. Many regional floristic studies were carried out The present work deals with the species during the last 50 years and