A MYCOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ROSHAY DUTT FOREST, KUMRAT VALLEY, KP

Abstract

With an emphasis on macrofungal diversity in a formerly unstudied temperate coniferous ecosystem, this study offers the first comprehensive mycological survey of Roshay Dutt Forest in Kumrat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. We identified nine macrofungal species from five families, representing several ecological guilds, through thorough morphological and anatomical characterisation. First valley records for Armillaria cepistipes Velen., Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm., and Laccaria amethystine Cooke are among the significant discoveries. The findings highlight the unexplored diversity of fungi in Kumrat Valley and highlight the necessity of combining morphological and molecular methods to further conservation initiatives.