Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Biosciences, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, Mangalore 574 199, Karnataka, India
2
Centre for Environmental Studies, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Derlakatte, Mangalore 575 018, Karnataka, India
Abstract
Public and private institutions usually possess land space for buildings, play grounds,
gardens, avenues and natural vegetation. Such landscapes possess diverse flora, fauna and
microbiota. Inventory of biodiversity in the vicinity constitutes first step to follow the status of
habitat based on diversity, carrying capacity and further steps for conservation or rehabilitation.
The current study assessed macrofungal diversity in the Yenepoya Campus of southwest India in
continuation of assessment of flora and fauna. This preliminary inventory was carried out in 10
habitats (three plantations, bamboo thickets, gardens, acacia groves, avenue trees, lawns, dumped
wood and termite mounds), which yielded 40 species of macrofungi belonging to 31 genera.
Among them, twelve species were edible, twelve species were medicinal, two species were
ectomycorrhizal and finally one species was entomophagous. Substrates supporting macrofungi
include soil (particolous), humus (humicolous), woody debris (lignicolous) and insects
(entomophagous). Results showed an abundance of five species (Amylosprous campbellii,
Daldinia concentrica, Lenzites betulina, Marasmiellus stenophyllus and Schizophyllum
commune), 13 others were common and 22 species were occasional. In addition to flora and
fauna, inventory of saprophytic macrofungi (involved in recycling the organic matter) occurring
in an institution surroundings help designating the habitat as healthy or regenerated or
impoverished to follow appropriate measures to maintain the status quo, rehabilitation and
conservation. This study suggests possibilities of domestication and utilization of several edible,
medicinal and ectomycorrhizal fungi in this area.
Keywords
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