International Journal of Microbiology and Mycology | IJMM pISSN: 2309-4796 http://www.innspub.net Vol. 2, No. 3, p. 37-48, 2014 Open Access RESEARCH PAPER ARESEARCH case study ARTICLE on wood -decaying macrofungi in the Southwestern slopes of Vasilyovska Mountain, Forebalkan, Bulgaria Maria Lacheva Department of Botany and Agrometeorology, Agricultural University-Plovdiv 12, Mendeleev Str., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Keywords Bulgarian mycota, conservation value, Forebalkan, fungal diversity, macrofungi, Vasilyovska Mountain, wood-decaying. Publication date: August 16, 2014 Abstract This study was performed based on specimens of macrofungi collected on field trips to the region between 2007 and 2011. The aim of this study was to determinate the wood-decaying macrofungi of Vasilyovska mountain, to enrich the information about fungal diversity in the Forebalkan floristic region, and make contribution to Bulgarian mycota. The information upon species composition and distribution of wood-decaying macrofungi in the Vasilyovska mountain were published for the first time including the second records of Armillaria ostoyae, Pholiota lucifera and Xeromphalina cauticinalis in the country. A list of 110 species belonging to Pezizomycota and Agaricomycota has been compiled which 75 species were reported for the first time from Forebalkan. Four species includes in the Red List of fungi in Bulgaria: Fomitopsis rosea (Alb. & Schwein. : Fr.) P. Karst., Hericium coralloides (Scop. : Fr.) Pers., H. erinaceus (Bull. : Fr.) Pers., and Lenzites warnieri Durieu & Mont. * Corresponding Author: Maria Lacheva [email protected] 37 Lacheva Introduction Тhe macrofungi of Mt Vasilyovska are seldom The Vasilyovska mountain is situated in Northern recognized. Because of the ecological properties Bulgaria, Central Forebalkan (Bondev, 2002). It of the mountain and data scarcity, especially in falls within the temperate-continental climatic respect of wood-decaying species, it was decided region (Velev, 2002). According to the physical to carry out a detailed study to determine the and geographical characteristics, the mountain is occurrence and distribution of these organisms in situated within the Stara Planina (Balkan) region the Mt Vasilyovska. The aim of this study was to (Georgiev, 1985; Yordanova et al., 2002). The determinate the wood-decaying macrofungi of Mt highest point in the mountain is peak Vasilyov Vasilyovska and make contribution to Bulgarian (1490 m). Composition of plant communities mycota as a whole. consists of woody, shrubbery and herbaceous species. The forest area is dominated by Abies Materials and Methods alba, Carpinus orientalis, Fagus moesiaca, F. This study was performed based on macrofungi sylvatica, Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris, Quercus materials collected periodically from 28 localities cerris, Q. frainetto, Q. pubescens, etc. Deciduous of Vassiliovska mountain in autumn and summer forests interspersed with Acer spp., Fraxinus between 2007 and 2011. spp., Tilia spp., etc. Typical representatives of the shrub species are Crataegus monogyna, Prunus The morphological properties and ecological spinosa, Rosa canina, Sambucus nigra, etc. conditions of the specimens were recorded in the Moreover the forest is recognized well by Ostrya field, and samples were taken to the laboratory carpinifolia and isolated Pinus nigra, etc. for microscopical examination and the (Bondev, 1991). preparation of herbarium voucher specimens. Macroscopic and microscopic investigations and Mt Vasilyovska is very important for nature micro-chemical reactions were carried out. conservation. It is part of the European ecological Identification of the specimens was performed network NATURA 2000 (BG0002109 Vasilyovska according to Phillips (1981), Breitenbach and mountain). The region is Protected area of the Kränzlin (1984-1991), Michael et al. (1983- Birds Directive, which protected area of the 1988), Moser (1983), Ellis and Ellis (1990), Habitats Directive. Hansen and Knudsen (1992-2000), Dähncke (1993), Gilbertson and Ryvarden (1993, 1994), A list of lignicolous fungi from Bulgaria has been and Wald et al. (2004). published by Stoichev (1990). Тhe macrofungi, including wood-decaying species of Forebalkan The systematics of the taxa are in accordance has been poorly studied. There have been only with Kirk et al. (2008), Denchev and Assyov sporadic records of single species from (2010), and Index fungorum neighboring areas, Central Balkan mountain and (www.speciesfungorum.org: accessed 3 May Central Balkan National Park (Stoichev, 1981, 2014), and they are listed in alphabetical order. 1982, 1983, 1987, 1995; Stoichev and All taxa were listed together with their Dimcheva, 1982, 1984, 1987; Vanev and Reid, distribution, habitat, locality, and collection date. 1986; Dimcheva and Gyosheva, 1993). Briefly Specimens were collected by the author, unless information for fungal diversity of the Central otherwise stated. Voucher specimens were Balkan National Park has been presented by deposited in the Agricultural University (SOA) in Fakirova et al. (2000, 2002), but there is no Plovdiv. detailed mycological study of the wood-decaying species of the Forebalkan. 38 Lacheva Collection localities 12. Glojene village, Tipchov Zab locality, The study area consists of one county (Teteven broadleaved forests with prevalence of Quercus municipality with Teteven town) and six rural spp., 500 m alt. districts. These are the villages of Babintsi, 13. Glojene village, Vara waterfall, mixed forest Glogovo, Glojene, Gradejnitsa, Ribaritsa, and of Fagus, Carpinus, Quercus, and cultures of Vasilyovo. Pinus nigra Betula pendula and Betula pendula, 500 m alt. Land of Babintsi village 14. Glojene village, Vruа locality, beech 1. Babintsi village, beech community around the community, 700 m alt. village, 800-1000 m alt. 15. Glojene village, Reventa locality, beech 2. Babintsi village, beech and spruce community community, 700 m alt. under the peak Treskavets, 900-1000 m alt. 3. Babintsi village, beech and spruce Land of Gradejnitsa village communityunder the peak Cherven, 850-1000 m 16. Gradejnitsa villages, broadleaved forests with alt. prevalence of Carpinus betulus and Quercus spp., 4. Babintsi village, beech community, Asanovoto around the village, 500-600 m alt. locality, under the peak Ostrich, 800 m alt. 17. Gradejnitsa villages, Balyov Rat locality, broad-leaved forests with prevalence of Quercus Land of Glogovo village spp., 450 m alt. 5. Glogovo village, mixed forest of Carpinus, 18. Gradejnitsa villages, Rushova Dupka locality, Fagus, Fraxinus, Quercus, and artificial cultures broad-leaved forests with dominated of Quercus of Pinus and Populus around the village, 500-600 spp., 450 m alt. m alt. 19. Gradejnitsa villages, Djamijska 6. Glogovo village, Krusta locality, beech neighborhood, broad-leaved forests with community, 500 m alt. dominated of Quercus spp., and Carpinus 7. Glogovo village, Damenitsa locality, orientalis, 400 m alt. broadleaved forests of Fagus, Carpinus, Quercus, 500 m alt. Land of Ribaritsa village 8. Glogovo village, Gramatnika neighborhood, 20. Ribaritsa village, beech community around mixed forest of Fagus, Carpinus, Quercus, 500 m the village, 600-700 m alt. alt. 21. Ribaritsa village, beech community and Ostrya carpinifolia community, in the valley of Land of Glojene villages Zavodna River, roadside from Ribaritsa village to 9. Glojene village, Stefanets locality, mixed forest Vejen Chalet, 750 m alt. of Carpinus, Fagus, Fraxinus, Quercus, and 22. Ribaritsa village, Ostar Kamak locality, beech cultures of Pinus nigra, P. sylvestris, and Populus community and Ostrya carpinifolia community, nigra, 450 m alt. along the Beli Vit River, 600-700 m alt. 10. Glojene village, Nyagolova Voda locality, mixed forests with prevalence of Carpinus Land of Vasilyovo village betulus, 500 m alt. 23. Vasilyovо village, beech and pine community 11. Glojene village, Vodna Pesht locality, around the village, 970-1000 m alt. broadleaved forests with prevalence of Carpinus 24. Vasilyovо village, beech community under betulus and Quercus spp., 500 m alt. saddle Bogoe, and pine community above saddle Bogoe, 1200 m alt. 39 Lacheva 25. Vasilyovо village, beech and spruce prevalent species are Daedaleopsis tricolor, community under Vasilyov Chalet, 1350 m alt. Phelinus igniarius, Hapalopilus nidulans, Lenzites 26. Vasilyovо village, beech and spruce betulina, and in pine cultures are often found community under the peak Vasilyov, 1200 m alt. Fomitopsis pinicola and Postia stiptica are often 27. Vasilyovо village, beech community near found. preserved area Cheren Rat, 1250 m alt. 28. Vasilyovо village, in community of Pinus The species Pholiota lucifera and Armillaria sylvestris around the village, 970-1000 m alt. ostoyae reported for the second time in the Voucher specimens were deposited at SOA. country. Four rare species found during this study are included in the Red List of fungi in Bulgaria Results and Discussion (Gyosheva et al., 2006), and Red Data Book of Since the Forebalkan has a temperate-continental the Republic of Bulgaria (Peev et al., 2011) on climate, wood-decaying fungi can be found the territory of Mt Vasilyovska, namely throughout the year. Coniferous broad-leaved Fomitopsis rosea, Hericium coralloides, H. forests cover large areas of the mountain, erinaceus and Lenzites warnieri. providing good growing conditions and substrate for wood rotting fungi. Trees growing in sheltered List of species valleys and near streams are particularly suitable (* new to Forebalkan,