MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF CHINESE Chroogomphus roseolus FROM PAKISTANI FORESTS, A MYCORRHIZAL FUNGUS, USING ITS-rDNA MARKER.

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]