Micro- and macrofungal diversity in Langol herbal garden Manipur, India

Studies on the taxonomy and diversity of macro fungi are gaining importance as many macro fungi are becoming extinct and facing threat of extinction because of habitat destruction. Present study deals with the diversity of macrofungi and its association with microfungi in Langol herbal garden, under central forest division Manipur, India. A total of 9 different macrofungal species namely Amanita vaginata, Amanita fulva, Boletellus pseudochrysenteroides, Cuphophyllus pratensis, Lactarious helvus, Russula fragilis, Xerula radicata , Agaricus bisporus and Tylopilus felleus were collected and identified based on their morphological and microscopic characteristics. Soil samples were analyzed for the microflora association with the different mushroom growing soil. A total 51 fungal species belonging to four phylum namely Ascomycota (44), Zygomycota (5), Oomycota (1), and Deuteromycota (1) were identified. Among the species Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stolonifer and Trichoderma harzianum were the dominant species which were distributed in all the soil samples indicating that soils with these micro fungi were most favourable for the growth of these macrofungi.