American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 12 (6): 750-759, 2012 ISSN 1818-6769 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.aejaes.2012.12.06.56401 Biodiversity of Mushrooms in and Around Bangalore (Karnataka), India 12H. Pushpa and K.B. Purushothama 1Department of Microbiology, M.S.Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Bangalore, India 2Department of Botany, St. Joseph’s Post Graduate and Research Centre, Bangalore, India Abstract: Bangalore (Bengaluru) is also called as a Garden city of India, positioned at 12°58' and 12°97' N lat and 77°34' and 77°56’ E longitudes with a wide range of ecosystem. The floristic composition of this region has been studied earlier by several workers, but the fungus which forms an important component of the ecosystem has been largely neglected in a biodiversity studies. The present investigation is an attempt to give a broad picture of biodiversity of mushrooms belonging to the class Basidiomycetes in Bangalore. The survey were conducted from June 2007 to November 2010 in 8 different places which included scrub jungles and urban places in a around Bangalore. A total number of 90 species in 48 genera belonging to 19 families in 05 orders were recorded, 28 species were found to be recorded for the first time in India. Among the collected species Coprinus disseminates followed by Coprinus fibrillosis and Schizophyllum communae was found to be abundant in their occurrence. The Simpson and Sannon diversity biodiversity index was found to be 0.8 and 1.24 respectively. The detailed report of the study has been presented here. Key words: Biodiversity Index Species Richness Wood Rots Mycorrhiza Bryophilous Coprophilous Mushrooms INTRODUCTION The first list on Indian Fungi was published by Butler and Bisby [3] and then revised by Vasudeva [4]. Several Mushrooms are seasonal fungi, which occupy additional lists appeared in between culminating with the diverse niches in nature in the forest ecosystem. fungi of India [5]. Status of Indian Agaricales was They predominantly occur during the rainy season and reviewed first by Sathe and Rahalkar [6] making 1825 as also during spring when the snow melts. Mushrooms are the base and then by Manjula [7], providing a very in fact the 'fruit' of the underground fungal mycelium. exhaustive list of Agaricoid and Boletoid fungi from India They are macromycetes forming macroscopic fruiting and Nepal. This list has been recently updated by bodies such as agarics, boletes, jelly fungi, coral fungi, Natarajan et al.[8]. A review of literature reveals that in stinkhorns, bracket fungi, puffballs and bird’s nest fungi. Karnataka, Natarajan et al. [8] was the first to report two They are fleshy, subfleshy, or sometimes leathery and species of Agaricus (now placed in 2 different genera). woody and bear their fertile surface either on lamellae or Later, Pegler [9] and Singh and Rajarathnam 10] each one lining the tubes, opening out by means of pores. The of them reported one species of Pleurotus. Natarajan and lamellate members are called agarics and the tube bearing Chandrashekara [11] Reported a new species of poroid members, as boletes and polypores. Among fungi, Physalacria. Sathe and Kulkarni [12] reported 25 species Basidiomycotina in particular have attracted considerable of mushrooms of these 10 were new species and one new attention as a source of new and novel metabolites with variety. Later, Purushothama [13] reported 95 species in antibiotic, antiviral, phytotoxic and cytistatic activity. 38 genera out of which 51 species were additions to the Mushrooms alone are represented by about 41,000 Indian Agaric Flora with two new species. species, of which approximately 850 species are recorded Mushroom species are the indicators of the forest life from India [1] mostly belonging to Agaricales, also known support system [14]. The presence or absence of fungal as gilled mushrooms (for their distinctive gills), or species is a useful indicator to assess the damage or the euagarics. The order has 33 extant families, 413 genera and maturity of an ecosystem. Data on their diversity in over 13000 described species [2]. different vegetation types is important for planning and Corresponding Author: H. Pushpa, Department of Microbiology, M.S. Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Bangalore, India. Tel: +9886789510. 750 Am-Euras. J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 12 (6): 750-759, 2012 managing ecosystem biodiversity [15]. The knowledge of of annulus etc., were noted from the fresh material, spore- biodiversity at the community and species level is more print was obtained and photographs were taken in its important for monitoring the effectiveness and effects of natural habitat. The colour terminology used is that of natural and artificial disturbances [16]. The purpose of the Kornerup and Wanscher [18]. The specimens were dried present survey was to identify the mushrooms up to in hot air over at 40-50°C and stored in air tight containers genus and species level, to record and compare the with some naphthalene balls for further microscopic diversity of mushrooms to other areas and to bring studies. The dried specimens were revived with 10% awareness among people to conserve mushrooms. potassium hydroxide solution; stains such as 1% aqueous Phloxine, Congo red-solution were used. Reagent such as MATERIALS AND METHODS Melzer’s reagent was used to study amyloidity of spores and various other tissues. Cresyl blue solution was used Collection Sites: Bangalore (Bengaluru), capital of to study the metachromatic reaction of the spores. Karnataka state lies in the heart of the Mysore Plateau Microscopic characters such as size and shape of basidia, (a region of the larger Precambrian Deccan Plateau) at an basidiospores were noted, presence or absence of average elevation of 920 m (3,018 ft). It is positioned pluerocystidia, cheilocystidia, pileocystidia and at12°58' and 12°97' N lat and 77°34' and 77°56’ E caulocystidia with their size and shape were noted. The longitudes and covers an area of 741 km22 (286 mi ). diameter of hyphae and the presence or absence of clamp- The majority of the city of Bangalore lies in the Bangalore connection in different region of basidiocarp was also Urban district of Karnataka and the surrounding rural noted. In the present systematic study Singer [19] areas are a part of the Bangalore Rural district. Bangalore classification concept was followed. experiences a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) with distinct wet and dry seasons. Data Analysis: The frequency of occurrence for each The average temperature in Bangalore is 23.6°C (75°F), the species was calculated by following formula as suggested highest monthly average 33°C (91°F) in April and May by [20]. and the lowest monthly average 15°C (59°F) in December, January. Bangalore receives an average of 924 mm Occurrence of taxon A Occurrence frequency of taxon A × 10 (36.4 in) of rainfall per year, or 77 mm (3.0 in) per month. Total number of all species The wettest weather is in October when an average of Shannon diversity index for mushroom was 185 mm (7.3 in) of rainfall (precipitation) occurs across calculated as suggested by Margalef [21]. 15 days. The average annual relative humidity is 64.3% and average monthly relative humidity ranges from 43% H =- (n/N) loge (n/N) in March to 78% in July. The study areas include scrub jungles and dry deciduous forests of Savanadurga, H is the diversity index, N is the total number of Jnanabharathi campus, Indian Institute of Science, Raman individuals of all the species and n is the total number of research Institute, gardens and open places of urban individuals of the individual species. areas like Vijayanagar, Rajajinagar, Yelahanka and Simpson Index of Diversity was calculated as Jayanagar. suggested by Simpson [22]. Collection of Mushrooms: Different species exhibit Simpson Index of Diversity =1-D different fruiting phenologies, which vary from month to Σn (n-1) month and at different altitudes and regions. Thus a D = particular species may fruit at different seasons across N (N-1) wide geographic distances or long elevation gradient. Sampling was done using quadrant method each n = The total number of organism of a particular species measuring 20 × 20 m. Total of 80 sampling plots in the N = The total number of organism of all species above 8 sampling sites were studied. D = Simpson’s index The collections of the mushrooms were made as suggested by Largent [17] from June 2007 to November With the help of the values of diversity index, the 2010. Field characters such as habit, habitat, colour and evenness of the mushroom was also calculated as size of the pileus, stipe and lamellae, presence or absence suggested by Pielou [23]. 751 Am-Euras. J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 12 (6): 750-759, 2012 e = H/ loge S species level. Agaricales dominated by 90% (11 families and 82 species in 38 genera); 5% in Aphyllophorales Where e is evenness, H is Shannon diversity index and S (3 families, 2 genera and 3 species in Polyporaceae is the number of species. and 1 species in 1 genus in Steriaceae and Index of similarity was calculated using Sorensen’s Clavariaceae respectively.); 3% in Lycoperidales formula to determine the similarity in species occurrences (2 families; one species in one genus each in the [24]. The similarity values range from 0 to 1 (1 meaning family Geastraceae, 2 species in 2 genera of very similar, 0 indicating no similarity) Lycoperdaceae.);1% in Nudulariales (one family Nudulariaceae of which only one species in one genus ) S´ = 2C/(A+B) and 1% in Sclerodermatales (1 family 1 genus and a species) were recorded. Out of 19 families Where S´ is the degree of similarity, A and B are the Tricholomataceae dominated by 31% this is followed by number of species at two different sites and C is number Agaricaceae 26%, Coprinaceae 13%.