Agaricomycota (Mushroom) Occurrence Distribution and Species Abundance in Kogi State, Central Nigeria

The diversity and distribution of mushroom-forming fungi of the three senatorial zones of Kogi state was studied. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to assess twelve randomly selected plots mapped out across the study area during the rainy and early dry seasons of 2014, 2015 and 2016. A total of eight-hundred and six (806) mushrooms species were collected and recorded during the three years of investigation of the study area. Three hundred and fifty (350) species were found in the eastern senatorial district, 143 species were found in the central senatorial district and 313 species were found in the western senatorial district of Kogi State. Out of these, 151genera and 32 families were identified. Kogi West had the highest (26) number of families and the lowest (15) number of families was observed in Kogi Central. Sixty eight (68) species and 14 families were common to all the districts. 6 morpho groups (Ascomycetes fungi, Boletoid and Polyporus fungi, Coral fungi, Gilled fungi, Cortinarius fungi, and Non-gilled fungi) occurred across the study area, the gilled-fungi being the most frequent, while the coral fungi had the least occurence. Also 13 stature types (Amanitoid, Armillarioid, Clitocyboid, Collybioid, Galerinoid, Lepiotoid, Mycenoid, Naucoriod, Omphaloid, Pleurotoid, Pluteotoid, Tricholomatoid, and Vaginatoid) were represented across the plots. Inventory of 112 fleshy and 25 hard mushrooms; 191 fleshy and 46 hard mushrooms; 352 fleshy and 80 hard mushrooms was carried out in year 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. Two hundred and ninety-eight (298) mushrooms species were collected on wood, 471 on soil and 37 on leaves litter/humus. The mushroom compositional species diversity and richness were estimated and compared using Shannon-Weiner Index, Pielo

Molecular Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Some Agaricomycetes (Mushroom) Fungi from Kogi State, Central Nigeria

The diversity and distribution of mushroom-forming fungi of the three senatorial zones of Kogi state was studied. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to assess twelve randomly selected plots mapped out across the study area during the rainy and early dry seasons of 2014, 2015 and 2016. Identification of selected mushrooms was done through morphological and molecular characterization. Fungi description was initially based on morphometric characters. For the molecular characterization, rDNA was used in a micro satellite PCR technique using ITS1 and ITS4. Forty wild mushrooms were amplified using genomic DNA isolated from their mycelial culture. The amplified products revealed 450 to 650 base pairs. The molecular data obtained from Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using microsatellite DNA amplification techniques characterized a total forty wild mushrooms species most of which had 99% similarity with other mushrooms when subjected to blasting. Mushroom sample 14S (Trametes sp) matched 100% Trametes polyzona ascension number JN848329.1 while 2S, S8, 22S, 20S, S3 and S6 mushroom samples have 99% percentage similarities with Daldinia eschscholtzii (KP012909.1), Leiotrametes flavida (KC589131.1), Lentinus squarrosulus (JQ428823.1 1), Lentinus sp. (JQ428823.1 2), Auricularia polytricha (FJ617296.1) and Tricholoma matsutake (MF037408.1) respectively. Furthermore, the result of the molecular analysis and phylogenetic relationship revealed that two (2) new species of mushrooms, never reported were been identified