NeBIO I www.nebio.in I June 2019 I 10(2): 66-76 MACROFUNGI OF DAKSHIN DINAJPUR DISTRICT OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA Tapas K. Chakraborty Department of Botany, Rishi Bankim Chandra College, Naihati, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India, Pin-743165 Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Macrofungi are very important for various reasons. Extensive field survey in different locations of Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal was conducted from March, 2007 to March, 2010 and macrofungi were collected for preparation of a taxonomic profile of macrofungi of the region. From the study area 88 different types of macrofungi were collected. Among these macrofungi 74 collections were identified up to the species level and 8 collections were identified up to the genus level whereas 6 collections remain unidentified. Among all the identified macrofungal population 9% members belong to Ascomycota and 91% members belong to Basidiomycota group. In this present study, a total of 82 macrofungal species in 60 genera belonging to 30 families in 12 orders were first time recorded from this region. Among all the identified macrofungi 17 species are edible whereas 4 species are poisonous. KEYWORDS: Edible, diversity, fungi, mushroom, poisonous. Introduction Purkayastha and Chandra, 1985; Roy and De, 1996; Sarbhoyet al., Macrofungi are consisting of fruiting body of unrelated groups of 1996; Natarajan et al., 2005). Macrofungi including mushrooms fungi (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) with large, easily observed are reported from south India (Sathe and Rahalkar, 1978; spore-bearing structures that form above or below the ground. Natarajan and Raman, 1983; Brown et al., 2006; Swapna et al., These include morels, truffles, earth-tongues, cup fungi, 2008; Mani and Kumaresan, 2009; Mohanan, 2011; Pushpa and polypores, bracket fungi, agarics, hedge-hog fungi, jelly fungi, Purushothama, 2012; Usha, 2012; Farook et al., 2013; Krishnappa puff-balls, stinkhorns, bird’s nest fungi. Study of macrofungi has et al., 2014), central India (Tiwari et al., 2013; Verma et al., 2008); immense importance as a source of food, new and novel Northeastern India (Sing and Sing, 1993); Tanti et al., 2011; metabolites, medicines, enzymes and for their role in Khaundand Joshi, 2013; Gogoiand Parkash, 2014; 2015 and West bioremediation. Earlier Walting and Gregory (1980) proposed that Bengal (Roy and Samajpati, 1980; Acharya et al., 2008; Dutta et as India is rich in flowering plants than any other country in size, al., 2012; Dutta et al., 2013; Pradhan et al., 2013; Chakraborty, the fungal population of India is expected to be diversified. 2018). Though several investigators have extensively surveyed different bio-geographical regions of India including Bengal plains and Since no floristic survey and study of macrofungi was done by any reported sizable number of fungal flora but northern part of West worker except Chakraborty (2018) in Dakshin Dinajpur district of Bengal did not get due attention (Butler and Bisby 1931, 1960; West Bengal, this communication for the first time reports the Mukherji and Juneja, 1975; Bilgrami et al., 1991; Manjula, 1983; rich macrofungal diversity from this region. Received 12 April 2019 I Accepted 15 May 2019 I Published online 23 May 2019 Citation: Chakraborty. 2019. Macrofungi of Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal, India. NeBIO 10(2): 66-76. Acknowledgements Financial assistance provided by UGC for this research project [F.PSW-049/07-08 (ERO) dated 21st February 2008] is gratefully acknowledged. I am thankful to Chapal Kumar Ghosh, Avijit Biswas, Uttam Adhikary, Priyabrata Paul, Jayanta Choudhury and Sandip Dev Choudhuri for their help in the field work. I am also thankful to the Principal, Balurghat College for providing the laboratory facilities. Copyright © Chakraborty. 2019. NECEER, Imphal allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium by adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication. NeBIO, An International Journal of Environment and Biodiversity Official publication of North East Centre for Environmental Education (NECEER), Imphal I ISSN 2278-2281 (Online), 0976-3597 (Print) I www.nebio.in Chakraborty » Macrofungi of Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal, India NeBIO 10(2): 66-76 Material and methods Each specimen was preserved wet as well as dry when possible. Dakshin Dinajpur is a district of West Bengal, India. The study Wet preservation was done in FAA (formalin-acetic acid-alcohol) area of the district is situated in the north of West Bengal. Most solution in glass jars. Specimens were dried in a hot air oven at of the border area of this district is shared with Bangladesh while 60ºC and stored in air tight plastic containers having some the western part in general is surrounded by Malda and Uttar naphthalene balls. Macro and microscopic characteristics of Dinajpur district of West Bengal. This area lies between 26º35'15" fungal specimens were observed and recorded by considering and 26º10'15" N latitude and 89º30" and 87º48'37" E longitude various morphological and anatomical features, standard comprising of 2162 sq. km of area. The elevation of the district is microscopic methods along with chemical tests following the about 15 m asl (meters above sea level). The temperature of this directions given by Walting (1973) and Singer (1986). Microscopic region reaches up to 42C in the hot summer and comes down to features of fruiting bodies in detail were studied for 4-5C in winter. Annual rain fall is 1700mm. Occasional shower in characterization using a binocular research microscope. winter is not uncommon. Spore colour is a useful character, particularly in gilled The Dakshin Dinajpur district has divided into 8 blocks and they mushroom.Though the individual spores can’t be seen through are Balurghat, Hili, Kumarganj, Tapan, Gangarampur, Kushmandi, naked eye, their colour in mass can be observed by taking spore Banshihari and Harirampur (Figure 1). The district is mainly print. Spore print was collected following the method of Arora composed of old alluvial soil though the laterite soil is found in (1986). Tapan block. For identification of the specimens different identification The extensive field survey was conducted from March, 2007 to manuals were consulted (Bessey, 1950; Walting, 1973; Natarajan March, 2010 in different seasons in various localities of Dakshin and Raman, 1983; Purkayastha and Chandra, 1985; Singer, 1986; Dinajpur to collect macrofungal species. The fungal species Arora, 1986; Zhishuet al., 1993; Van der Gucht, 1995; Roy and De, predominantly occur during the rainy season. They began to 1996; Keizer, 1998; Pegler, 1999; Calonge, 2005). MycoBank appear immediately after the first shower in the late half of June Database was consulted for the current valid name of the fungal and flourished well on sites during July-August up to October. The species (http://www.mycobank.org/defaultinfo.aspx?Page=home). specimens were collected by picking up individual fructification by Some authentic web sites viz. www.mushroomobserver.org, carefully digging them from the substratum with the help of a www.mushroomexpert.com, www.rogersmushrooms.com were sharp knife and then cleaned using a soft brush. Photographs of also accessed. the specimens were taken in the field in their habitat using a Canon Digital Camera. Data were collected and recorded on habit, All the voucher specimens were deposited to the Herbarium, habitat, size, etc. All stages of fructifications were collected and Department of Botany, Balurghat College, Balurghat, Dakshin wrapped in a paper bag and brought carefully to the laboratory. Dinajpur, West Bengal, India. Figure 1. Study area of Dakshin Dinajpur district showing 8 Blocks. 67 ISSN 2278-2281 (Online), 0976-3597 (Print) I www.nebio.in Chakraborty » Macrofungi of Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal, India NeBIO 10(2): 66-76 Results identification of the collected samples it is observed that among More than 700 photographs of different macrofungi were taken the different specimens some were taxonomically similar. Table 1 from different places of Dakshin Dinajpur area using a Canon enumerates the taxonomic status of different specimens collected Digital Camera. More than 110 specimens were collected from from the study area. Photographs of the macrofungi collected different places of the district. After careful examination and from the study area are presented in Figures 2, 3 and 4. Table 1. Enumeration and taxonomic profile of macrofungi found in Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal, India. Order Family Name of the Species ASCOMYCOTA Pezizales Ascobolaceae Ascobolus tax. sp1 Xylariales Hypoxylacee Daldinia concentrica (Bolton) Ces. & De Not. Hypoxylon serpens (Pers.) J. Kickx f. Xylariaceae Xylaria polymorpha (Pers.) Grev. Xylaria hypoxylon (L.) Grev. Xylaria carpophila (Pers.) Fr. Xylaria tax. sp1 BASIDIOMYCOTA Agaricales Agaricaceae Agaricus subrufescens Peck Agaricus trisulphuratus Berk. Chlorophyllum molybdites (G. Mey.) Massee Cyathus intermedius (Mont.) Tul. & C. Tul. Cyathus striatus (Huds.) Willd. Lpiota cristata (Bolton) P. Kumm. Leucocoprinus cepaestipes (Sowerby) Pat. Leucocoprinus cretaceus (Bull.) Locq. Leucocoprinus brebissonii (Godey) Locq. Lycoperdon tax. sp1 Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer Bolbitiaceae Bolbitius coprophilus (Peck) Hongo Catathelasmataceae Macrocybe crassa (Sacc.) Pegler & Lodge Entolomataceae Clitopilus prunulus (Scop.) P. Kumm. Cortinariaceae Cortinarius cinnamomeus (L.) Gray Inocybaceae Crepidotus