New Host Record, Phenotypic, and Genotypic Identification: One New Species of <i>Ganoderma</i> from Western Ghats of Karnataka, India
Subrata Kumar, A. Muthu Kumar, Praveen Kumar Nagadesi
Abstract
Ganoderma (Ganodermataceae) is renowned for its white rot pathogen and medicinal properties. A survey was conducted to collect and identify wood-rotting fungal samples from February 2023 to July 2024 in the evergreen forest areas of the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. A combined approach of morphological and molecular analyses (ITS) identified several Ganoderma species, including one novel species: Ganoderma swietenium sp. nov. associated with Swietenia mahagoni. Additionally, G. adspersum (Schulzer), G. applanatum (Pers.), G. australe (Fr.) Pat. G. carnosum Pat. G. gibbosum, G. lobotum (Schwein.) G.F. Atk. G. lucidum (Fr.) P.Karst. G. tropicum (Jungh.), G. sessile Murrill, G. tsugae Murrill, G. steyaertianum B.J. Sm.& Sivasith, G. multiplicatum (Mont.)Pat. and G. parvulum Murrill. Bull. Torrey was also identified. This study unveils novel host associations and the first-time report of Ganoderma species in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India, i.e. G. multiplicatum on Ficus religiosa and G. tsugae on Delonix regia and Ganoderma carnosum and G. australe were found in association with Roystonea regia, while G. gibbosum, G. lobotum, G. tropicum, G. steyaertianum, and G. resinaceum were associated with Grevillea robusta. G. adspersum was documented for the first time on Albizia saman from India, causing white rot.