Diversity of gasteromycetes and taxonomic studies of lycoperdaceae and geastraceae in Peninsular Malaysia / Amira Peli

• Main Author: Amira, Peli
• Format: Thesis
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Q Science (General); QH301 Biology
• Online Access: http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/9374/1/Amira_Peli.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/9374/6/amira.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/9374/

Gasteromycetes is a group of fungi that produce the spore inside its basidiocarps. Despite the unique morphology and great diversity among the gasteromycetes, this group of fungi has extensive benefits both to mankind as well as its implication towards ecology. There are a few diversity study conducted on specific group such as gasteromycetes were reported for Malaysia. Currently, there are 27 documented records of gasteromycetes collected in Malaysia comprising of five gasteroid group namely Sclerodermataceae, Nidulariaceae, Phallaceae, Lycoperdaceae and Geastraceae. Despite having a few study on the fungal diversity in Malaysia, there are still insufficient information regarding the records of gateromyetes in Malaysia. In this study, 43 specimens from five families; Lycoperdaceae, Nidulariaceae, Sclerodermataceae, Phallaceae and Geastraceae with 20 different species of gasteromycetes from nine different generaand were successfully recorded in this study. The majority of the specimen was collected in the state of Selangor (19 specimens) followed by Negeri Sembilan (eight specimens), Johor (six specimens), Pahang (five specimens), Perak (three specimens) and Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur with two specimens only. The most common gasteromycetes collected in this study are Cyathus striatus (Huds.) Willdenow ex Pers. and Scleroderma sinnamariense Mont. Eleven species were newly recorded for Peninsular Malaysia viz. Vascellum curtisii (Berkeley) Kreisel, Calvatia holothuriodes Rebriev, Lycoperdon asperum (Lév.) de Toni, Morganella purpurascens (Berkeley & Curtis) Kreisel & Dring, Morganella fuliginea (Berkeley & M.A Curtis) Kreisel & Dring, Scleroderma mexicana (Guzmán et Tapia) Guzmán, Scleroderma areolatum Ehrenb., Scleroderma suthepense Kumla, Suwannarach & Lumyong, Scleroderma bovista Fries,Geastrum hariotii Lloyd and G. mirabile Montagne. Among these species, two genera of Lycoperdaceae viz. Vascellum and Morganella are recorded for the first time from Malaysia. The phylogenetic studies of both Malaysian Lycoperdaceae and Geastrum Pers. were analysed. The molecular analysis of ITS region shows Lycoperdaceae is monophyletic with Mycenastrum corium (Guers.) Desv. as sister clade and Geastrum is monophyletic. However, both of the analysis showed a weak support of monophyly within member of Lycoperdaceae and Geastrum. Further study on molecular study on Lycoperdaceae and Geastrum can be extended into other DNA region such as nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU) region, mitochondrial ATPase subunit 6 gene (atp6) and translation elongation factor subunit 1 alpha (Tef-1α). This would provide assistance in phylogenetic study of Lycoperdaceae and Geastrum. As this study only covered a few of National Parks and forest reserves in Peninsular Malaysia, there are still a possibility of more new records and new species that yet to be discovered in Malaysia. An extensive documentation of gasteromycetes in Malaysia including Sabah and Sarawak also can be carried out for further study to enhance the knowledge of diversity of gasteromycetes in Malaysia.