MORPHOLOGICAL AND NRDNA-ITS SEQUENCES-BASED IDENTIFICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF VOLVOPLUTEUS EARLEI IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Volvopluteus is represented by seven species distributed in America, Asia and Europe. They occur in the tropical regions growing as saprobes on wood debris and leaves, in grassy fields and forests. To explore the macrofungal diversity, different localities in Punjab were visited and collections were made. Among these several collections were found similar to Volvopluteus species. They were analyzed morphologically and phylogenetically using ITS sequences of nrDNA. Comparative analysis on the basis of morphological and anatomical features  revealed that these collections represent V. earlei . Maximum likelihood phylogeny also showed the position of current sequences in a same clade with already known V. earlei sequences with 74% bootstrap value. Volvopluteus earlei is being described from different areas of Pakistan with variety of climatic conditions from warm semi-arid climate of Kasur, Lahore and  Sheikhupura districts, humid subtropical climate of Sialkot district,  in Punjab and warm semi-arid to humid subtropical climate of Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The occurrence of V. earlei in different climatic zones represents its wide distribution range and ecological amplitude in the country.