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Present study deals with the plectological and molecular analysis as well as use of economically important wild Russuloid mushrooms against food pathogenic fungus Aspergillus niger. Three different species of mushrooms viz., Russla laeta, R. nobilis, and R. nigricans were collected and identified from Himalayan range of Pakistan and are found as new records for this country. Major objective of this study was to highlight the importance of these wild creatures as antifungal agents against A. niger. For this purpose methanolic extract of selected mushrooms of different concentration levels viz., 1, 1.5, 2 and 3% were used. This activity is also first time reported from Pakistan by using this group of mushrooms. Results showed that all tested mushrooms exhibit growth inhibition of A. niger and can be used as biocontrol agents. R. nigricans showed maximum inhibition of fungus growth that is 62% at 3% concentrations while minimum inhibition was observed in R. nobilis at same concentration that is 43.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Himalayan range of Pakistan is one of the diversity rich hotspots of the world. Many areas are yet to be explored here to discover new species of organisms including fungi. During present research, Swat District of Pakistan was explored for fungal diversity. One new species of mushroom Russula swatica (Russulales) is described from Himalayan range of Pakistan and analyzed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy as well as by molecular markers. A comprehensive description, photographs, and comparisons with morphologically similar and phylogenetically related species are provided. Conclusions of its phylogenetic relationships within the genus are provided based on the sequence of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the molecular systematics of Asian collections of Hebeloma theobrominum and H. mesophaeum which have not been previously reported from any Himalayan part of the world, and are new to Pakistan. Both were identified using morpho-anatomical and molecular characterization. The target rDNA of both species was amplified by using universal fungal primers. In phylogenetic analysis, both species distinctly clustered with their respective groups. These both species have been described first time from Asia using ITS-rDNA barcoding. The sequences of both species were compared with those of same European species from the GenBank. These species clustered with European species in phylogenetic tree proving their cosmopolitan distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]