The research group of fungal diversity and molecular evolution at Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted in-depth research on more than 1,600 samples of macrofungi collected from 2019 to 2024 by means of species identification combining morphology and molecular systematics. The results showed that there were 480 species of macrofungi in this area, covering 7 classes, 17 orders, 67 families, and 158 genera of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, and 8 new species were described.
Fungal diversity patterns revealed taxonomic dominance at both family and genus levels. Among the 67 documented families, 15 were dominant (≥10 species each), collectively representing 22.39% of families and 64.58% of all species. Russulaceae was the most species-rich (79 species), followed by Agaricaceae (25), Cortinariaceae (25), Boletaceae (21), Inocybaceae (18), Hymenogastraceae (17), and Omphalotaceae (17). At the genus level, 23 of 158 genera (14.56%) contained ≥ 5 species each, accounting for 55.21% of total species diversity. Nine genera with more than 10 species were Lactarius (39), Russula (35), Cortinarius (25), Amanita (15), Entoloma (14), Inocybe (13), Mycena (12), Gymnopus (11), and Laccaria (11).
This study identified 480 fungal taxa. Within this assemblage, 115 edible (23.96%), 15 medicinal (3.13%), and 53 poisonous species (11.04%) were cataloged. Notable edible species included Tricholoma matsutake, Cantharellus cibarius, Cortinarius emodensis, Lactarius deliciosus, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus abieticola, and Ramaria pallida, etc. Eight species served dual purposes as both edible and medicinal fungi: Cordyceps militaris, Hericium erinaceus, Hericium rajendrae, Megacollybia clitocyboidea, Naematelia aurantialba, Pholiota spumosa, Sarcodon imbricatus, and Schizophyllum commune. Common poisonous fungi comprised Amanita altipes, Amanita liquii, Clitocybe phyllophila, Coprinopsis atramentaria, Cortinarius subsanguineus, Galerina marginata, Hypholoma fasciculare, Leccinum scabrum, Paragyromitra infula, and Russula emetica.
This study not only provides important data support for global biodiversity protection, but also helps to formulate more scientific and reasonable protection strategies. In addition, some species found in the study show remarkable economic value and medicinal potential, which opens up new possibilities for the development and utilization of biological resources. This study not only enriches our understanding of the ecosystem in southeast Xizang, but also provides a solid foundation for biodiversity protection and resource utilization in the future.
