Photo Courtesy: nenews
Shillong: Scientists have identified a new mushroom species growing beneath sal trees in the Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya. They named it Russula griseopurpurata. The discovery adds a fresh entry to the massive Russula genus, which includes roughly 2,000 species globally and 180 within India.
A team from Gauhati University published the findings in the journal Phytotaxa on August 5. The group included Dr. Niranjan Roy, Pinaki Chattopadhyay, Dr. Arun Kumar Dutta, and Prof. Bhaben Tanti. Roy collected the specific Meghalaya specimen on July 22, 2022, near Jirang at an elevation of 320 metres.
The team analyzed three specimens total, sourcing two from West Bengal and one from Meghalaya. They compared the mushrooms using microscopic exams and DNA sequencing. The Meghalaya sample is stored at the Gauhati University herbarium as GUBH 20331, with its ITS sequence registered as PQ432811. Genetic data confirmed the specimens belong to the same species.
The mushroom features a greyish-purple cap that cracks as it ages. The gills show forked structures near the stalk. Researchers studied the fungi across the two states between 2021 and 2022. They thanked the Meghalaya Department of Forests and Environment and the Meghalaya Biodiversity Board for their cooperation. Regarding the safety of the fungus, the researchers stated, "Its reported mild taste and odour should not be interpreted as evidence of food safety or edibility."
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