Rare Mushroom Species found in India for the First Time

Srinagar, Aug 20: In a landmark discovery for Indian biodiversity, researchers have reported the first-ever record of the rare mushroom species Amanita griseopantherina from India. The finding, made by Dr. Faisal Mushtaq Kichloo, senior faculty in Botany with the Higher Education Department, J&K, and Dr. Anil Kumar, a noted mushroom expert from North India, has been published in Springer’s peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Previously known only from China, the species was collected from mixed coniferous forests of Jammu and Kashmir. Its identification marks a significant addition to the fungal diversity of the Indian subcontinent.

For authentication, DNA isolation, amplification, and sequencing were carried out at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram. Both morphological and molecular analyses confirmed the identity of the species, firmly establishing its place within the Amanita griseopantherina clade.

“This is a highly significant record for Indian mycology. It opens new avenues for research on fungal diversity, conservation, and ecological interactions,” the researchers said.

Experts say the discovery is expected to boost scientific understanding of fungi in the Himalayan region, which remains one of the least explored biodiversity hotspots in the world.