Search

Chroogomphus roseolus is a common mycorrhizal species exclusively found with Pinus wallichiana which has been collected from Himalayan moist forests of Pakistan. Taxonomically, this species is previously not described from Pakistan and also first time reported outside Chinese territory. In this study, Pakistani collection has been characterized on morphological and molecular basis. Macrosopic characters like size, shape and colour of pileus, stipe and spore are compared in Cinese European and North American literature for its identification. Its Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) of ribosomal DNA sequence was amplified using universal primer pair (ITS1f and ITS4) and nucleotide sequences queried in GenBank database using BLAST analysis where it matches 99% with sequences of the same species from China. Phylogenetic analysis, description, photographs and line drawings of Pakistani collection confirmed as Chroogomphus roseolus. The exclusive presence of this species Pinus wallichiana indicates that it can be used in mycorrhization control in afforestation and reforestation of Pinus wallichiana vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lepiota acutesquamosa and L. cristata (Basidiomycota, Agaricales) collected from Himalayan moist temperate forests of Pakistan were characterized using internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of rNDA, a fungal molecular marker. The ITS-rDNA of both species was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. The target region when amplified using universal fungal primers (ITS1F and ITS4) generated 650-650bp fragments. Consensus sequences of both species were submitted for initial blast analysis which revealed and confirmed the identification of both species by comparing the sequences of these respective species already present in the GenBank. Sequence of Pakistani collection of L. acutesquamosa matched 99% with sequences of same species (FJ998400) and Pakistani L. cristata matched 97% with its sequences (EU081956, U85327, AJ237628). Further, in phylogenetic analysis both species distinctly clustered with their respective groups. Morphological characters like shape, size and color of basidiomata, basidiospore size, basidial lengths, shape and size of cheilocystidia of both collections were measured and compared. Both these species have been described first time from Pakistan on morph-anatomical and molecular basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]