Abstract:
Genus Russula occurs across a wide range of habitats, from the arctic tundra to tropical forests, and forms ectomycorrhizal relationships with diverse host plants. It is the largest of all genera in the family Russulaceae. It has eight subgenera and at least 2000 species. They usually have brightly colored pileus, brittle gills, an absence of latex, and absence of partial veil or volva on stipe. Microscopically, the genus is characterized by the amyloid ornamented spores and a trama composed of spherocysts. During mycological expeditions some basidiomata of Russula were collected from Kumrat forest, Dir Upper, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. These basidiomata were found growing near the trees of Abies pindrow. Russulathindii (R. subg. Russula) is characterized by red to purplish pink viscid pileus, broadly adnate to adnexed lamellae, white stipe with purplish pink flush and pileocystidia without any incrustations. Morphological features, anatomical characterization and nrDNA ITS-based phylogenetic analysis evidently supported it to be R. thindii. As R.thindii constitutes natural part of our forest ecosystem, therefore, it can be considered as a candidate species for various forestry practices by utilizing its ECM capacity. However, further research is required to better understand the functional and molecular mechanisms involved in fungus-plant interactions.
Page(s):
154-154
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Abstract Book on Second International Conference on Recent Approaches in Plant Sciences (RAPS-23) 4-5 May 2023 , Volume: 0, Issue: 0, Year: 2023
Keywords:
Ectomycorrhizal
,
ITS
,
nrDNA
,
Russulales
,
Kumrat valley