Ecological Studies of Mushrooms and Toad Stools of Kaghan Valley

Abstract

700 samples of Mushrooms and Toad stools belonging to 115 genera were recorded from kaghan valley. The valley was divided in to 4 ecological zones. The first ecozone subtropical pine zone (29000-6000) Mahandari and Manor Bella area is away from the monsoon range, but the area around Balakot and above it, at high altitude is fertile for better collection of mushrooms & Toad stools. The soil of this zone is not soft like other zones, because of less rainfall the decomposition rate remains slow. So there was thin soil layer and less number of mushrooms. Most of the mushrooms and toad stools were collected grown as saprophytes in this zone. The 2nd eco zone is Temperature Trans/Himalayan, comprising these localities: Sharhan, Shogran, Kamal Ban e.t.c. ranging in altitude 5500 to 7500. It was found to be rich in wild growing mushrooms. Most of the area of this zone is covered with thick vegetation consisting of Conifers, Quercus, Cedrus deodar and other broad leaves trees bushes etc. The soil is rich in all the required elements, such as phosphorus, potassium, favourable pH, nitrogen and organic matter. The upper 3-5 inches layer of the soil was soft which was derived from the leaves or needles of these trees and herbs growing under them. The mycorrhizal elements were also associated with Conifers, Cedrus and Quercus spp. The monsoon rainfalls enfavour their growth. The localities Sharhan, Kamal Ban and Shogran are good for fungal growth but Shogran is best and it is at its peak during September and October for all type of mushrooms. The third ecozone is the Subalpine Trans/Himalayan comprised of the major localities viz. Naran, Saif Maluk, Lalazar, Batakundi, Burawi etc. In this zone vegetation is sparse, upto Naran it is the continuation of confers and spruce tree of kaghan, but towards Saiful Maluk it is almost devoid of vegetation except one or two communities of trees. On the way towards Saiful Maluk Astreaus sp. was collected. There was a very good patch of conifers at Lalazar (10,500) above Batakundi. The soil was soft rich in organic matter and phosphorus etc. of brown to dark brown colour. Lalazar was better than Naran for fungal growth. The Subalpine Trans/ Himalayan Ecozone for mushrooms is comparatively less fertile than the Temperature Trans/ Himalayan zone. In Burawai there were broad leave bushes, where some small and tiny mushrooms were growing among stones under them in July and August only. The bare rocks were covered with Lichens. The fourth zone is the Alpine Trans/ Himalayan comprising of Lulusar lake, Gittidas and upto Babusar Pass area. Lulusar lake is the only reservoir for this area. The elevated area of Gittidas was green covered with herbs, the dominant plants were Polygonum spp. Rest of the area up to Babusar top was devoid of plants, and lichen were growing on the bare rocks. This zone was poor for mushrooms. Only two puff balls were collected from grassy slopes of Gittidas. About five km down towards Chilas, was of Babusar village. Some parts of mountains facing towards North-east, there were few communities of Juniper bushes. Under these, characteristic mushroom flora was collected. These mushrooms appear after light rain fall at night. This shows that the area towards Gilgit may have a different and better percentage of mushrooms. Mycorrhizal mushrooms were associated with Pine trees, and Truffles with Quercus sp. The genus Coprinus and some species of Psathyrella are coprophillous in nature and distributed throughout the valley. The wood inhabiting (bracket) fungi were also collected from the area which was from monsoon range. The Marasmius saprophytic on small twigs, grass leaves, soil etc. was distributed throughout the valley, and in higher percentage in subtropical and temperature zone. The genus Amanita had high percentage in Lalazar and Shogran. The mycorrhizal mushroom were well represented in Lalazar, Shogran, Kamal Ban, Sharhan. The best species of Boletus were found in Kamal Ban, shogran and Sharhan Vegetation, soft soil, altitude and rainfall are the elementary factors for mushrooms in this valley. All the identified mushrooms were classified after Marcel 1987. These were enlisted systematically with salient characters of the groups and autecological notes, habitat, substrate, distribution and edibility etc. The environment of some mushrooms were supported with photographs 32 different species were found to be edible from this valley. About 22 fungi were medically important. The Forest department should train the locals to collect the edible ones as wild vegetable and others for the medicinal point of view. This report will be beneficial to them who want to study the mushrooms taxonomically or ecologically. The biologists, chemists, biochemists and industrialists will come to know about the mushroom flora of the valley. They can arrange the required material to extract the valuable compounds like anti tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-protozoal medicine.