¹Department of Biology, Shiveshwar Junior College Takli (A), Taluka Kannad, District Aurangabad
India.

²J. Watumull Sadhubella Girls College, Ulhasnagar Dist. Thane India.

Corresponding author email: vasant.mali@rediffmail.com

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ABSTRACT:

In the present investigation, 89 specimens of wood-decaying fungi were collected between the viewpoint and Ajanta cave of  the famous ecotourist spot of Ajanta forest, research  was carried out during year 2014 to 2021. Specimens were identified according to macroscopic characteristics  on site and also in  microscopic details in  the laboratory. As far as we know we are reporting for the first time the diversity of wood-decaying fungi from Ajanta Forest, which consists of  28 genera and 39 species. Among these 35 species were annual and 4 species were perennial.

Most dominating to rarely observed genus were Trametes Fr (5 species) followed by Leucocoprinus Pat (3 species), Auricularia Bull (2 species), Favolus Fr (2 species), Hypoxylon Bull (2 species), Lentinus Fr (2 species), Phellinus Quél (2 species), whereas Cellulariella Zmitr. & Malysheva, Cerrena S.F. Gray, Daedaleopsis Schroet, Daldinia Ces. & de Not, Duportella Pat, Earliella Murrill, Flavodon Ryvarden, Funalia Pat Ganoderma P. Karst, Hexagonia Pollini, Lopharia Kalchbr. & MacOwan, Phanerochaete P. Karst, Phlebiopsis Julich, Phylloporia Murrill, Pleurotus (Fr.) P. Kumm, Pseudofavolus Pat, Pycnoporus P. Karst, Scytinostroma Donk, Schizophyllum Rr, Truncospora Pilát, and Xylaria Hill ex Schrank represent single genera.

KEYWORDS:

Ajanta Cave, Macroscopic, Microscopic, Specimens.

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Gore V. U, Mali V. P. On the Diversity and Taxonomic Evaluation of Wood-Decaying Fungi from Ajanta Forest Caves, Maharashtra, India. Biosc.Biotech.Res.Comm. 2023;16(4).

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Gore V.U, Mali V.P. On the Diversity and Taxonomic Evaluation of Wood-Decaying Fungi from Ajanta Forest Caves, Maharashtra, India. Biosc.Biotech.Res.Comm. 2023;16(4). Available from: <ahref=”http://surl.li/pegpi“>http://surl.li/pegpi</a>

INTRODUCTION                                            

Ajanta forest is located in Sillod and Soygaon Tehsil Area of Aurangabad district in Maharashtra, India. The world famous  Ajanta cave is situated at 20° 33′ 8.56″ N 75° 42′ 1.57″ E. Specimens were collected in between Ajanta caves and upper view point of Ajanta forest. Basidiocarp of macro-fungi are formed only when ecological conditions are favorable, but their mycelia exist on humus, plant litter, and decaying wood for a long period. Macro-fungi fruiting on woody substratum are usually saprobes or pathogens causing root rot, butt rot, heart rot, and decay of wood, branches, and twigs. Studies of Wood-decaying fungi were initiated with the launch of studies in Indian fungi. The first Indian record of Wood-decaying fungi could be traced back to work (Klotzsch, 1832) in his paper Indian Polyporaceae. Later few Indian Polypores described by (Berkeley, 1839).

Bose was the first Indian mycologist to provide comprehensive account on wood-decaying fungi from Bengal (Bose, 1919a,b,c, and 1927a,b,c).  He took special efforts  to publish a  book entitled “Genera of Indian Polypores”  in which he was the first to describe the diversity and taxonomy of Indian Polypores (Sharma, 2000). Checklist of 256 species of Aphyllophorales fungi from Western-ghats of Maharashtra state have included 170 species from 10 poroid families and 86 species from 20 non-poroid families (Ranadive et. al 2011). 10 Genera and 13 species of gilled fungi collected from Pune and Western Ghats of Mahabaleshwar and Mulshi have also  been described  by Senthilarasu (2014). Similarly, 27 genera and 23 species of    wood-rotting fungi from Asti-1  have been described  by  Mali, (2015).

India represents about 20 species under genus Trametes from that,  5 species have been reported from Nanded and Parbhani Districts of Marathwada region of Maharashtra (Mali, 2016). 22 genera and 27 species of wood-decaying fungi have also been reported from Soygaon, District Aurangabad  India, recently   by Gore and Mali, (2023). As far as we know we are reporting for the first time the diversity of wood-decaying fungi from Ajanta Forest are3a caves, Aurangabad, India, which consists of 28 genera and 39 species. Among these 35 species are annual and 4 species are perennial.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Wood-decaying fungi were collected 15 to 20 days after heavy rainfall month of July to November from year 2014-2021 from various region of Ajanta forest near Ajanta cave. The Basidiocarp of fungi is first photographed at the site then noted down morphological features by using a hand lens (20 X) dimension, color, shape, consistency, upper sterile surface, lower fertile surface, margin, context, tubes, and pores per mm in the field book and then specimens are dried naturally under sun light or using 200 watt bulb maintaining temperature 40-55֯ C.

Microscopic observations were done by taking free hand thin section cutting of Basidiocarp with the help of sharp razor blades,  stained and studied in 10 % KOH, Lactophenol, and Melzer’s reagent under 40X and 100X Magnification  (Olympus CX 41) in laboratory. Then specimens of macro-fungi were kept in brown paper packets as per international mycological herbarium guidelines according to date of collection, locality, host name, altitude, latitude, longitude, and classification of species. Naphthalene balls were placed in each herbarium packet to avoid insect attack.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

28 genera and 39 species of wood decaying fungi were identified according to morphological and microscopic character from collected 89 specimen are as follow (Table-1 and Photo plate-1).

Auricularia mesenterica (Dicks.) Pers: Basidiocarp annual, resupinate to pileate, 0.7–27.2 × 0.5–10.1 cm, up to 0.3 cm thick, moist dependent, bracketed, soft jelly like. Pileus 0.5–3.4 × 0.3–0.5 cm, up to 0.3 cm thick, ear like, hairy, forming greyish white to brownish black. Lower fertile surface smooth to slightly wrinkled, purplish brown to coffee brown. Context very thin, jelly like when fresh. Hyphal system monomitic, generative hyphae 3–6 µm wide. Spores 8–13 × 5.5–6.5 µm, ovoid to reniform.

Auricularia nigricans (Sw.) Birkebak, Looney & Sánchez-García: Basidiocarp annual, pileate, moist dependent, soft jelly like. Pileus 0.9–3.8 × 0.5–2.7 cm, up to 0.4 cm thick, ear like, attached with the help of short stalk like apparatus narrowly attached, velvety hairy, tuft of hairs forming greyish white to almost brownish black. Lower fertile surface smooth, purplish brown to coffee brown. Context jelly like when fresh, homogeneous. Hyphal system monomitic, generative hyphae 3–5 µm wide. Spores 14–16.5 × 5.5–7.5 µm, allantoid.

Cellulariella acuta (Berk.) Zmitr. & Malysheva: Basidiocarp annual, pileate, sessile. Pileus 8.9–15.4 × 5.1–8.4 × 0.7–2.6 cm thick near base, semicircular. Upper surface sterile, concentrically zonate, sulcate, yellowish white to dark blonde. Lower fertile surface poroid to maize like 1–4 mm wide pores, yellowish white to pale yellow. Context up to 0.8 cm wide. Tubes up to 1.8 cm wide. Hyphal system tirmitic, generative hyphae 2–3 µm wide, skeletal hyphae up to 3.5–6.5 µm wide, binding hyphae 2.5–4 µm wide. Spores 5.5–7 × 2–3 µm, cylindrical.

Cerrena caperata (Berk.) Zmitr: Basidiocarp annual, pileate, sessile. Pileus 1.3–4.2 × 1–2.4 × 0.2–0.4 cm, applanate, dimidiate. Upper sterile surface, tomentose, chocolate brown to grayish brown. Lower fertile surface poroid, 3–5 per mm, round to angular, cinnamon to deep chocolate-brown. Context 0.1–0.2 cm thick. Tubes 0.1–0.2 cm long, cinnamon brown. Hyphal system trimitic, generative hyphae 1–2 µm wide, skeletal hyphae 3–5 µm wide, binding hyphae 2–4 µm wide, Spores 6.5–9 × 2–3.5 µm, cylindrical.

Daldinia concentrica (Bolton) Ces. & De Not: Basidiocarp annual, globose,1.6–3.8 × 1.5–3.3 × 1.1–2.4 cm, hemispherical, hard when fresh, brittle to charcoal like on drying, purple brown to brownish black. Fertile surface smooth, glabrous, composed of single layer spore bearing flask like organ, perithecia1–2 mm wide, tubular to lanceolate, slightly papillate ostioles. Context composed of alternating zonation and each zone represent seasonal growth. Perithecia 800–1100 × 300–500 µm, lanceolate, small, crowded in a single layer beneath the thin crust.  Asci 200–260 × 7–12 µm, cylindrical, 8-spored. Spore 12–17 × 5–7 µm, elliptic-fusiform.

Daedaleopsis confragosa (Bolt : Fr.) Schroet: Basidiocarp annual, pileate, sessile, dimidiate. Pileus 12.3–17.4 × 8.1–10.3 cm, up to 2.7 cm thick near base, semicircular, applanate, azonate to concentrically zonate, sulcate, yellowish white to dark blonde. Lower fertile surface poroid, lamellate to maize like up to 1mm wide pores, pastel yellow to buff. Context up to 2 cm wide. Tubes up to 0.7 cm wide. Hyphal system tirmitic, generative hyphae 2–4.5 µm wide, skeletal hyphae up to 4–6 µm wide, binding hyphae 3–4 µm wide. Spores 9–11 × 2–3 µm, cylindrical.

Duportella tristicula (Berk. & Broome) Reinking: Basidiocarp annual, crust-like or resupinate, 0.5–24.1 × 0.4–3.9 × 0.02–0.1 cm thick when young, initially arises as small velvety brown patches growing in all direction to form a large fruiting body, papery thin and brittle on drying, smooth, brownish grey dark brown Fertile surface smooth and shiny, velvety when young, dark brown to coffee brown. Context papery thin. Hyphal system dimitic, generative hyphae 2–3.5 µm wide, skeletal hypahe 2.5–4 µm wide, Spores 8.5–11 × 3–5 µm, ellipsoid.

Earliella scabrosa (Pers.) Gilb. & Ryvarden: Basidiocarp annual, resupinate, effused reflexed to pileate, 0.5–14.9 × 0.4–8.7 × 0.2–0.6 cm. Pileus 0.5–6.9 × 0.3–3.4 × 0.2–0.6 cm, semicircular, light zonate, sulcate, glabrous, creamy white to reddish brown. Lower fertile surface poroid, 1–3 pores per mm angular to iripicoid yellowish grey. Context up to 0.2 cm thick, Tube up to 0.4 cm wide. Hyphal system trimitic, generative hyphae 2–3.5 µm wide, skeletal hyphae 3.5–5 µm wide, binding hyphae 3–5 µm wide. Spores 7–9 × 3–4 µm, cylindrical to oblong ellipsoid.

Favolus grammocephalus (Berk.) Imazeki: Basidiocarp annual, pileate. Pileus 5.7–11.2 × 4.2–6.7 cm and up to 0.7 cm thick at the base, applanate, dimidiate to flabelliform, yellowish white to ochraceous to pale brown. Lower fertile surface poroid 3–4 per mm pores, round to angular, yellowish white to brownish yellow.  Context 0.1–0.4 cm wide. Tubes 0.1–0.2 cm long. Stipe 0.3–0.6 × 0.3–0.5 cm, laterally attached.  Hyphal system dimitic, generative hyphae 2.5–5 µm wide, skeleto-binding hyphae 4.5–7 µm wide, Spores 5–6 × 2–3 µm, ellipsoid.

Favolus roseus Lloyd: Basidiocarp annual, pileate. Pileus 3.6–5.8 × 1.9–4.6 × 0.1–0.7 cm, semicircular, greyish golden yellow to yellowish brown. Lower surface fertile poroid, 1–2 per mm, hexagonal to pentagonal, pale yellow to orange yellow. Context up to 0.2 cm wide toward the base. Tube up to 0.5 cm wide. Stipe 0.1–0.5 × 0.3–0.4 cm, lateral to eccentric. Hyphal system dimitic, generative hyphae 2.5–5 µm wide, skeleto-binding hyphae 2.5–6 µm wide, Spores 8–12 × 3.1–5.1 µm, cylindrical.

Flavodon flavus (Klotzsch) Ryvarden: Basidiocarp annual, resupinate to effused-reflexed 1.8–42.7 × 0.8–13.2 × 0.1–0.7 cm thick. Pileus 1.5–33.9 × 0.3–1.7 cm up to 0.7 cm thick, applanate, glabrous when matured, grayish yellow to olive grey.  Lower fertile surface poroid, pores or lamellate or teeth 1–2 per mm, lemon yellow to ochraceous. Context up to 0.2 cm wide. Tubes up to 0.5 cm long, olive yellow. Hyphal system dimitic, generative hyphae 2.5–6 µm wide, skeletal hyphae 3.5–6 μm wide. Spores 5–7 × 2.5–4 µm, broadly ellipsoid.

Funalia leonina (Klotzsch) Pat: Basidiocarp annual, pileate. Pileus 0.6–9.1 × 0.5–5.8 × 0.7–1.9 cm thick near the base, applanate, smooth, covered with stiff persistent and strigose hairs, yellow white to pale yellow to ochre orange Lower fertile surface poroid, pores 1–2 per mm, toothed, iripicoid to maize like, cream to orange brown. Context up to 1.2 cm thick. Tubes up to 0.6 cm wide. Hyphal system trimitic, generative hyphae 3.5–6 µm wide, skeletal hyphae 3–5 µm wide, binding hyphae 2.5–3.5 µm wide. Spores 11–14.5 × 3.5–5 µm cylindrical.

Ganoderma mediosinense J.D. Zhao: Basidiocarp annual, pileate.  Pileus 10.3–12.9 × 7.2–8.4 and up to 3.1 cm thick near stipe juncture, semicircular, glabrous. Upper surface often covered with a cocoa brown powder of deposited spores, faint reddish brown to dark reddish brown. Lower fertile surface poroid round, pores 3–4 per mm, cream when young to pale brown when old. Context up to 2.4 cm wide. Tubes up to 0.7 cm deep.  Stipe 5.3–8.9 × 0.7–1.4 cm. Hyphal system trimitic, generative hyphae 1.5–3 µm wide, skeleton-binding hyphae 2–5.5 µm wide, binding hyphae 1.5–3 µm wide. Spores 9–11 × 5–6.5 µm, ovoid to ellipsoid.

Hexagonia sp: Basidiocarp annual, resupinate, effused-reflexed to pileate. Pileus 4.2–8.9 × 2.5–3.7 × 0.3–2 cm, semicircular, sterile, zonate, sulcate, glabrous, greyish brown  to tobacco brown. Lower fertile surface poroid 1per mm wide, angular to hexagonal, teak brown to brownish grey. Context up to 0.7 cm wide. Tubes up to 1.3 cm long. Hyphal system trimitic, generative hyphae, 2–3.5 µm wide, skeletal hyphae 3.5–6.5 µm wide, binding hyphae 3–4 µm wide. Spores 5–7 × 3–4.5 µm, cylindrical.

Hypoxylon haematostromaMont: Basidiocarp annual, resupinate, 0.5–12.3 × 0.5–5.5 × 0.1–0.4 cm, hard. Fertile surface minutely papillate, cinnabar red to reddish brown. Context papery thin, homogenous, solid, dark brown. Perithecia long tubular 900–2300 × 200–600 µm. Ostioles are lower than stromatal surface. Asci 150–200 × 6–9 µm, broadly cylindrical, 8-spored, septate at base. Spore 15–18 × 5.5–8.5 µm, elliptic-fusiform.

Hypoxylon rubiginosum (Pers.) Fr: Basidiocarp annual to perennial, resupinate, 0.9–16.2 × 0.5–6.9 × 0.1–0.3 cm, hard when fresh, brittle when dry purplish brown to amaranth. Fertile surface papillate, rusty brown when fresh, purpulish black when mature. Context homogenus. Peritheca 200–400 × 1500–4000 µm, spherical to obovoid, black. Ostioles are lower than stromatal surface umbilicate, inconspicuous. Asci cylindrical, 8-spored, septate at base, hyaline. Spore 11–15 × 5–6 µm, ellipsoid- inequilateral.

Lentinus connatus Berk: Basidiocarp annual. Pileus 6.3 cm in diameter, plano-convex with slightly uplifted margin, smooth, faint creamy to yellowish orange when young, golden yellow to greyish brown when mature. Gills decurrent, 9–11 per cm, close to rather crowded, pink white to ochraceous. Stalk 5.6 × 0.7 cm, central, equal, solid, brittle, yellowish white to golden yellow. Hyphal system dimitic, generative hyphae 5.5–8 µm wide, skeleto-binding hyphae 2.5–5 µm wide.  Spores 6–8 × 2.5–3 µm.

Lentinus squarrosulus Mont: Basidiocarp annual, caespitose, gregarious.  Pileus up to 6.2 cm in diam., infundibuliform, chalky white to pinkish buff to ochraceous. squamose to squarrose. Gills 9–12 per cm, deeply decurrent, white to pale buff. Stalk 2.4–5.5 × 0.9–1.3 cm, central, eccentric also covered with flocculose sqamules, concolorous with pileus. Context up to 0.2 cm thick. Hyphal system dimitic, generative hyphae 2.5–4 µm wide, Skeleto-binding hyphae 2–2.5 µm wide. Spores 5–7.5 × 1.7–2.5 µm, cylindrical.

Leucocoprinus birnbaumii (Corda) Singer: Basidiocarp annual. Pileus 2.9–4.6 cm in diameter, sub-globose, finally campanulate or expanded, truncate at apex, creamy white sometimes pale brown at centre. Gills free 11–14 per cm, moderately crowded, creamy white. Stalk 4.2–5.6×0.3–0.9 cm, cylindrical r swollen base, hallow, white powdery coating on the surface. Context thin, soft, chalky white. Annulus present. Hyphal system monomitic, generative hyphae 4.4–11 µm wide. Spores 7–10 × 5.5–6.5 µm, ellipsoid.

Leucocoprinus cepistipes (Sowerby) Pat: Basidiocarp annual. Pileus 3.7–8.4 cm in diameter, obovoid then conical, finally comanulate or expanded, truncate at centre, chalky white with pale pink tints. Gills free 15–18 per cm, rather crowded, creamy white. Context thin, soft. Stalk 4.5–8.6 × 0.5–1.1 cm, cylindrical but broader below to give a sub-bulbous base, with powdery coating on the surface. Annulus present. Hyphal system monomitic, generative hyphae 3.5–5 µm wide. Spores 7–10 × 5–7 µm, ovoid.

Leucocoprinus cretaceus (Bull.) Locq: Basidiocarp annual. Pileus 4.7 cm in diameter, conico-comanulate to umbonate or expanded, truncate at centre, chalky white with pale tints. Gills free 13–17 per cm, rather crowded, creamy white. Context thin, soft. Stalk 6.2 × 1.1 cm, cylindrical but broader below to give a sub-bulbous base, with powdery coating on the surface. Annulus present. Hyphal system monomitic, generative hyphae 3–5 µm wide. Spores 7–9.5 × 4.5–6.5 µm, ellipsoid to ovoid.

Lopharia cinerascens (Schwein.) G. Cunn: Basidiocarp annual, crust-like, resupinate, effused-reflexed to pileate, 0.5–5.9 × 0.4–3.4 cm up to 0.1 cm thick. Pileus 0.5–4.1 × 0.3–0.5 cm up to 0.1 cm thick, sometimes semicircular, zonate, sulcate, velvety to tomentose, clay to smoky brown. Lower fertile surface, smooth, cracked when mature, olivaceous brown to smoky to brownish black. Context thin, homogenous. Hyphal system monomitic, generative hyphae 3.5–6 μm wide. Spores 7–9 × 3–4 μm, cylindrical to ellipsoid.

Phanerochaete sordida (P. Karst.) J. Erikss. & Ryvarden: Basidiocarp annual, resupinate, 5.6–15.3 × 4.2–9.4 cm, up to 0.3 cm thick, membranous, creamy white to pale yellow brown. Fertile surface smooth, cracked on drying, creamy white to straw yellow when fresh, on drying pale yellow to pale yellow brown. Context papery thin.Hyphal system monomitic, generative hyphae 3.5–6.5 µm wide. Spores 5.5–8 × 3–5 µm, broadly ellipsoid.

Phellinus allardii (Bres.) S. Ahmad: Basidiocarp perennial, resupinate to pileate, 9.8 × 7.9 × 4.3 cm. Pileus 1.4 × 0.5 cm, usually imbricate, reddish brown and covered with a tomentum. Lower fertile surface poroid, round, regular, pores 6–8 per mm, yellowish brown when young. Context very thin, sometimes almost absent. Tubes stratose, up to 0.2–0.4 cm deep in each layer, umber brown. Hyphal system dimitic, generative hyphae 2–3 µm wide, skeletal hyphae 3–4 µm wide. Spores 5–6 × 3.5–4 µm, broadly ellipsoid to subglobose.

Phellinus badius (Berk. ex Cooke) G. Cunn: Basidiocarp perennial, pileate, sessile. Pileus 10.2 × 5.4 × 5.8 cm, hoof-shaped to ungulate. Upper sterile surface glabrous, weakly zonate, sulcate, yellowish brown to brownish black. Lower fertile surface poroid, round, pores 4–5 per mm. Context up to 2.1 cm thick, homogenous. Tubes up to 0.3 cm deep in each layer ferruginous brown. Hyphal system dimitic, generative hyphae 3–4 µm wide, skeletal hyphae 4–5 simple septate, wide. Spores 6.5–7.5 × 6–6.5 µm, broadly ellipsoid to subglobose.

Phlebiopsis crassa (Lév.) Floudas & Hibbett: Basidiocarp annual, resupinate, 0.5–10.8 × 0.5–6.7 × 0.1–0.2 cm thick when fresh, purplish pink to purplish grey to pale violet to violet brown to brownish grey. Fertile surface when young velvety gradually surface become smooth, cracked on drying, grayish violet to purplish grey to violet to grayish brown. Context papery thin on drying, dense, smooth, homogenous. Hyphal system monomitic, generative hyphae 2.5–8.5 µm wide. Spores 6–8 × 3–4 μm, narrowly ellipsoid.

Phylloporia pectinata (Klotzsch) Ryvarden: Basidiocarp perennial, pileate, solid. Pileus 14.2 × 9.1 × 0.7–5.8 cm, semicircular, applanate, sulcate, brownish yellow to brownish black. Lower fertile surface poroid, round, pores 5–6 per mm, yellowish brown to dark brown. Context up to 1.1 cm thick, duplex, yellowish brown to almost blackish. Tubes up to 0.3 cm deep, arranged in layer yellowish brown to brown. Hyphal system monomitic, generative hyphae 1.5–5 µm wide. Spores 3–3.5 × 2–3 µm, globose to sub-globose.

Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm: Basidiocarp annual, pileate. Pileus 7.1 × 4.8 cm, pleurotoid, spathulate to flabelliform, grey white to cream white. Gills decurrent, 7–10 per cm, white to grey white. Stalk reduced or sub-stipitate 0.7 × 0.6 cm, cylindrical, lateral or ecentric, creamy white at base, slightly greyish at upper part. Context thin, homogenous creamy white. Hyphal system monomitic, generative hyphae 3–6.5 µm.  Spores 7.5–12 × 2–4 µm, cylindrical.

Pseudofavolus tenuis (Fr.) G. Cunn: Basidiocarp annual, resupinate, effused-reflexed to pileate, 2.2–5.3 × 0.8–3.6 × 0.1–0.3 cm. Pileus 2.1–5.2 × 1.4–3.1 × 0.1–0.3 cm, semicircular, glabrous, zonate, sulcate, dark brown. Lower fertile surface poroid 1–2 per mm wide, hexagonal, brownish grey. Context up to 0.1 cm wide. Tubes up to 0.2 cm long. Hyphal system trimitic, generative hyphae up to 3 µm wide, skeletal hyphae 2–4.4 µm wide, binding hyphae up to 3µm wide. Spores 8.8–14.7 × 2.9–4.4 µm, cylindrical.

Pycnoporus sanguineus (L.) Murrill: Basidiocarp annual, effused reflex to pileate. Pileus 2.3 –6.2 × 1.2–3.7 × 1.1–2.2 cm thick at the base, semicircular, glabrous, smooth, sulcate, pale orange to cinnabar red. Lower fertile surface poroid, 4–6 per mm pores, round, tomato red to brick red. Context up to 1.9 cm thick near base. Tubes up to 0.3 cm wide. Hyphal system trimitic, generative hyphae hyaline, 2.5–3.5 µm wide, skeletal hyphae 2–5 µm wide, binding hyphae 2–3 µm wide. Spores 5–6 × 2–2.5 µm, cylindrical.

Scytinostroma duriusculum (Berk. & Broome) Donk: Basidiocarp annual, resupinate, 0.5–12.2 × 0.5–6.7 cm, up to 0.5 cm thick when fresh, creamy white to ochraceous. Fertile surface smooth, when touched gives hair-like or velvety sensation, creamy white to dull yellow when fresh, on drying pale yellow to ochraceous. Context thin, smooth, homogenous, pale yellow to dull yellow. Hyphal system dimitic, generative hyphae 1–4 µm wide, skeletal hyphae 1–6.5 µm wide. Spores 5–7 × 4.5–7 µm, globose to subglobose.

Schizophyllum commune Fr: Basidiocarp annual, pileate. Pileus 0.5–3.3 × 0.5–3 cm, 0.2–0.4 cm thick near the base, flabelliform to kidney shape, semicircular, velvety with tufts of woolly small hairs, greyish to dark greyish brown. Lower fertile surface falsely gilled, separating along the gill’s edge, dichotomously branched, and greyish brown. Context up to 0.1 cm wide. Pseudogills 0.3 cm thick. Hyphal system monomitic, generative hyphae 4–7.5 µm wide. Spores 4–7 × 2–3 µm, suballantoid.

Trametes cingulata Berk: Basidiocarp annual, pileate. Pileus 2.8–5.3 × 1.4–3.9 × 0.9–1.4 cm, semicircular to applanate, glabrous, zonate, sulcate, yellow white, later becoming sooty black. Lower fertile surface poroid, 3–6 per mm pores, round, shiny on the light incident, yellowish white to pale yellow. Context up to 0.7 cm thick. Tubes up to 0.5 cm wide. Hyphal system trimitic, generative hyphae 2–3µm wide, skeletal hyphae   3–5µm wide, binding hyphae 1–3µm wide. Spores 4–5 × 3–3.5µm, broadly ellipsoid.

Trametes ellipsospora Ryvarden: Basidiocarp annual, resupinate to effused reflex to pileate. Pileus 2.4–5.2 × 1.6–3.9 × 0.1–0.4 cm thick, semicircular, applanate, strigose hairs, shiny, sulcate, weakly zonate, yellow white. Lower fertile surface poroid 3–5 per mm pores, angular, iripicoid, cream to ochre orange. Context up to 0.2 cm thick. Tubes up to 0.2 cm wide. Hyphal system trimitic, generative hyphae 2–3 µm wide, skeletal hyphae   2.5–5.5 µm wide, binding hyphae 1.5–3.5 µm wide. Spores 3–5 × 2–3.5 µm, ellipsoid.

Trametes gibbosa (Pers.) Fr: Basidiocarp annual, pileate. Pileus 8.4–12.3 × 4.1–6.8 × 0.5–1.4 cm, semicircular, applanate, glabrous, light zonate, sulcate, cream white to ochraceous. Lower fertile surface poroid 1–4 per mm wide, lamellate to deadaleoid or maize like, cream white to pale straw. Context up to 1 cm wide. Tubes up to 0.4 cm long. Hyphal system trimitic, generative hyphae 2–4 µm wide, skeletal hyphae 3–5 µm wide, binding hyphae 2–4 µm wide. Spores 4–5.5 × 2–2.4 µm, oblong ellipsoid.

Trametes hirsuta (Wulfen) Lloyd: Basidiocarp annual, pileate. Pileus 4.2 × 2.3 × 0.1–0.4 cm thick, semicircular, applanate, hirsute, sulcate, weakly zonate, greyish white to greyish faint brown. Lower fertile surface poroid 3–4 per mm pores, circular to angular, cream to greyish white. Context up to 0.2 cm thick. Tubes up to 0.2 cm wide. Hyphal system trimitic, generative hyphae 2.5–4.5 µm wide, skeletal hyphae   3–5.5 µm wide, binding hyphae 2–3.5 µm wide. Spores 6–8.5 × 2–3 µm, cylindrical.

Trametes variegata (Berk.) Zmitr: Basidiocarp annual, effused-reflexed to pileate. Pileus 2.8–3.7 × 2.8–3.1 × 0.1–0.2 cm, papery thin, weakly sulcate, zonate, papery thin, greyish brown to voilet brown. Lower fertile surface poroid 1–2 per mm wide, hexagonal to angular, brownish grey to cream grey. Context up to 0.1 cm wide. Tubes up to 0.1 cm long. Hyphal system trimitic, generative hyphae hyaline, 2–4 µm wide,  skeletal hyphae 1.5–3 µm wide, binding hyphae 1.5–3 µm wide. Spores 9–13 × 4–4.5 µm, cylindrical.

Truncospora tephropora (Mont.) Zmitr: Basidiocarp perennial, resupinate, 5.6 – 47.2 × 2.9 – 10.3 cm up to 1.9 cm thick at centre, hard when fresh, woody hard on drying. Lower fertile surface poroid, 4–6 per mm pores, round, greyish yellow to blonde. Context papery thin to almost absent. Tubes 0.1–1.9 cm wide, duplex or in a layer, light brown to coffee brown.  Hyphal system trimitic, generative hyphae 2–3.5 µm wide, skeletal hyphae 3–4.5 µm wide, binding hyphae 1.5–3 µm wide.  Spores 4.5–6 × 3–4.5 µm, broadly ellipsoid.

Xylaria hypoxylon (L.) Grev: Basidiocarp annual, erect, up to 2.3 cm in length, corky, flattened, simple or branched, the lower part grayish black to black. Perithecia develop beneath the sporocarp surface showing protruduing papillae of the perithecial necks. Perithecia with comspicuous ostioles. Asci cylindrical, 95–115 × 5–5.5 µm, 8-spored. Ascospores 11– 14.5 × 5–6 µm, ellipsoid-inequilateral.

Table 1. Distribution and host name of wood-decaying fungi from Ajanta forest

Sr.no Scientific name Host Date Altitude Latitude &

Longitude

Collection

Number

1 Auricularia mesenterica (Dicks.) Pers. Boswellia serrata Roxb.exColebr.  15/11/19 502m VUG/VPM-801 2 Auricularia nigricans (Sw.) Birkebak, Looney & Sánchez-García.

 

04/09/14 554m

 

VUG/VPM-84 3 Cellulariella acuta (Berk.) Zmitr. & Malysheva, Tectona grandis L.f. 20/08/16 551m VUG/VPM-257 4 Cerrena caperata (Berk.) Zmitr. Pistacia integerrima J. L. Stewart ex Brandis 04/09/16 551m VUG/VPM-345 5 Daedaleopsis confragosa (Bolt : Fr.) Schroet Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. 18/07/21 508m 20˚32ʹ57ʺN

75˚42ʹ05ʺE

VUG/VPM-815 6 Daldinia concentrica (Bolton) Ces. & De Not. Pistacia integerrima J. L. Stewart ex Brandis  02/10/19 418m 20˚33ʹ01ʺN

75˚42ʹ09ʺE

VUG/VPM-726 7 Duportella tristicula (Berk. & Broome) Reinking Pistacia integerrima J. L. Stewart ex Brandis  30/10/16 557m 20˚32ʹ53ʺN

75˚42ʹ13ʺE

VUG/VPM-686 8 Earliella scabrosa (Pers.) Gilb. & Ryvarden Boswellia serrata Roxb.exColebr. 15/11/19 500m VUG/VPM-799 9 Favolus grammocephalus (Berk.) Imazeki Bougainvillea spectabilisWilld 18/07/21 419m 20˚36ʹ06ʺN

75˚42ʹ04ʺE

VUG/VPM-820 10 Favolus roseus Lloyd, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. 18/07/21 419m 20˚36ʹ06ʺN

75˚42ʹ04ʺE

VUG/VPM-819 11 Flavodon flavus (Klotzsch) Ryvarden Santalum album L. 30/10/16 558m VUG/VPM-689 12 Funalia leonina (Klotzsch) Pat. Tectona grandis L.f.

 

15/11/19 503m 20°32’56″N 75°42’06″E VUG/VPM-796 13 Ganoderma mediosinense J.D. Zhao Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) K.Heyne 04/09/16 410m 20˚33ʹ09ʺN

75˚42ʹ03ʺE

VUG/VPM-349 14 Hexagonia sp. 1 Pistacia integerrima J. L. Stewart ex Brandis 20/08/16 551m VUG/VPM-255 15 Hypoxylon haematostroma Mont Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) K.Heyne 20/08/16 411m 20˚33ʹ04ʺN

75˚42ʹ03ʺE

VUG/VPM-260 16 Hypoxylon rubiginosum (Pers.) Fr. Hardwickia binata Roxb.   02/10/19 521m 20˚32ʹ54ʺN

75˚42ʹ10ʺE

VUG/VPM-727 17 Lentinus connatus Berk 20/08/16 550m 20˚32ʹ55ʺN

75˚42ʹ11ʺE

VUG/VPM-259 18 Lentinus squarrosulus Mont Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. 18/07/21 418m 20˚33ʹ04ʺN

75˚42ʹ06ʺE

VUG/VPM-904 19 Leucocoprinus birnbaumii (Corda) Singer Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby  18/07/21 501m 20˚32ʹ57ʺN

75˚42ʹ07ʺE

VUG/VPM-816 20 Leucocoprinus cepistipes (Sowerby) Pat Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby  18/07/21 500m 20˚32ʹ58ʺN

75˚42ʹ06ʺE

VUG/VPM-818 21 Leucocoprinus cretaceus (Bull.) Locq. Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby  18/07/21 501m 20˚32ʹ57ʺN

75˚42ʹ07ʺE

VUG/VPM-811 22 Lopharia cinerascens (Schwein.) G. Cunn Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. 30/10/16 557m 20˚32ʹ53ʺN

75˚42ʹ13ʺE

VUG/VPM-687 23 Phanerochaete sordida (P. Karst.) J. Erikss. & Ryvarden Santalum album L. 30/10/16 558m VUG/VPM-690 24 Phellinus allardii (Bres.) S. Ahmad Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. 20/08/16 556m 20˚32ʹ53ʺN

75˚42ʹ14ʺE

VUG/VPM-254 25 Phellinus badius (Berk. ex Cooke) G. Cunn Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) K.Heyne 20/08/16 432m 20˚33ʹ09ʺN

75˚42ʹ02ʺE

VUG/VPM-264 26 Phlebiopsis crassa (Lév.) Floudas & Hibbett

 

20/08/16 550m 20˚32ʹ55ʺN

75˚42ʹ11ʺE

VUG/VPM-258 27 Phylloporia pectinata (Klotzsch) Ryvarden Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby  02/10/19 442m 20˚36ʹ06ʺN

75˚42ʹ04ʺE

VUG/VPM-725 28 Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm. Pistacia integerrima J. L. Stewart ex Brandi 30/10/16 410m 20˚33ʹ11ʺN

75˚42ʹ05ʺE

VUG/VPM-696 29 Pseudofavolus tenuis (Fr.) G. Cunn Pistacia integerrima J. L. Stewart ex Brandis  30/10/16 557m 20˚32ʹ53ʺN

75˚42ʹ13ʺE

VUG/VPM-685 30 Pycnoporus sanguineus (L.) Murrill On Angiospermic wood 25/10/21 410m 20˚33ʹ02ʺN

75˚42ʹ11ʺE

VUG/VPM-908 31 Scytinostroma duriusculum (Berk. & Broome) Donk Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. 20/08/16 410m 20˚33ʹ07ʺN

75˚42ʹ05ʺE

VUG/VPM-266 32 Schizophyllum commune Fr Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) K.Heyne 20/08/16 501m 20˚32ʹ58ʺN

75˚42ʹ05ʺE

VUG/VPM-267 33 Trametes cingulata Berk Pistacia integerrima J. L. Stewart ex Brandis  01/10/21 501m 20˚32ʹ55ʺN

75˚42ʹ06ʺE

VUG/VPM-855 34 Trametes ellipsospora Ryvarden Hardwickia binata Roxb.   02/10/19 439m 20˚32ʹ54ʺN

75˚42ʹ10ʺE

VUG/VPM-728 35 Trametes gibbosa (Pers.) Fr. Pistacia integerrima J. L. Stewart ex Brandis  25/12/21 500m 20˚32ʹ57ʺN

75˚42ʹ07ʺE

VUG/VPM-862 36 Trametes hirsuta (Wulfen) Lloyd. Pistacia integerrima J. L. Stewart ex Brandis  06/09/21 410m 20˚33ʹ08ʺN

75˚42ʹ05ʺE

VUG/VPM-844 37 Trametes variegata (Berk.) Zmitr Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) K.Heyne 30/10/16 453m 20˚33ʹ07ʺN

75˚42ʹ03ʺE

VUG/VPM-693 38 Truncospora tephropora (Mont.) Zmitr

 

01/10/21 503m 20˚32ʹ58ʺN

75˚42ʹ07ʺE

VUG/VPM-854 39 Xylaria hypoxylon (L.) Grev Pistacia integerrima J. L. Stewart ex Brandis  06/09/21 410m 20˚33ʹ08ʺN

75˚42ʹ05ʺE

VUG/VPM-845

Figure 1

CONCLUSION

In this study we are reporting for the first time the diversity of wood-decaying fungi from Ajanta Forest, which consists of  28 genera and 39 species. Among these 35 species were annual and 4 species were perennial. Most dominating to rarely observed genus were Trametes Fr (5 species) followed by Leucocoprinus Pat (3 species), Auricularia Bull (2 species), Favolus Fr (2 species), Hypoxylon Bull (2 species), Lentinus Fr (2 species), Phellinus Quél (2 species), whereas Cellulariella Zmitr. & Malysheva, Cerrena S.F. Gray, Daedaleopsis Schroet, Daldinia Ces. & de Not, Duportella Pat, Earliella Murrill, Flavodon Ryvarden, Funalia Pat Ganoderma P. Karst, Hexagonia Pollini, Lopharia Kalchbr. & MacOwan, Phanerochaete P. Karst, Phlebiopsis Julich, Phylloporia Murrill, Pleurotus (Fr.) P. Kumm, Pseudofavolus Pat, Pycnoporus P. Karst, Scytinostroma Donk, Schizophyllum Rr, Truncospora Pilát, and Xylaria Hill ex Schrank represent single genera.

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