2012) Inventory and spatial ecology of macrofungi in the Shorea robusta forest ecosystem of lateritic region of West Bengal, Biodiversity, 13:2, 88-99, Macrofungi are broad in diversity and play an important role in sustaining ecosystems. However, the quantity and quality of their habitat is decreasing and the threat of extinction looms over the remaining 95% of the world's undiscovered fungal species. There is an urgent need for inventorisation, monitoring and conservation of macrofungi and the habitats supporting their growth. This paper focuses on the species richness, assemblage and spatial ecology of the macrofungi whose lifecycles are intricately woven with natural Shorea robusta forests in the lateritic region of West Bengal, India. Decreasing soil productivity, poor regeneration of Shorea seedlings and subsequent habitat degradation for macrofungi are a prime cause of concern.

Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove biomes, have a rich biodiversity of diverse flora and fauna. Although various attempts had been made previously to explore the diversity of this World Heritage Site, information related to the diversity and ecology of macrofungi in this region is sparse. In this context, the aim of this study was to record the macrofungal diversity and describe the macrofungal communities of this ecosystem whose lifecycles are intricately woven with the mangrove ecosystem of the Indian part of Sundarbans. Carpophore surveys were conducted from June 2010 to September 2012 over 77 randomly placed quadrats (20 × 20 m 2 ). A total of 455 carpophores belonging to 62 species across 27 families and 46 genera were recorded. Of the total number of macrofungal species listed, around 55% were saprophytic. The genera with the greatest species richness were Ganoderma and Tricholoma. Comparing the species richness estimators, the cumulative number of species over the three successive years revealed that 75-100% of potential macrofungal species were recorded. Results from the present study are an important contribution to the knowledge of the macrofungal diversity of the mangrove ecosystems, both in India and worldwide.

No abstract

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, is an important medicinal plant being the source of extremely important compounds like withanolides and withaferin. Influence of different plant growth regulators (PGRs) were evaluated for induction of callus, callus mediated regeneration and production of secondary metabolites in them. Explants for callusing were collected from plants grown in vitro and maximum callusing (98 %) was obtained on MS medium supplemented with a combination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) (0.5 mgl -1 ) and kinetin (KN) (0.2 mgl −1 ). Among different types of calli, best shoot regeneration was observed on green, compact calli produced on MS medium with a combination of 6-benzylamino purine (BAP) and indole butyric acid (IBA). MS medium supplemented with BAP (2 mgl −1 ) showed highest frequency (98 %) of shoot bud regeneration. The micro-shoots were efficiently rooted on MS media supplemented with 0.5 mgl −1 IBA. Rooted plants were transferred to soil-vermi-compost (1:3; w/w) medium in greenhouse for acclimatization. Presence of withanolide A and withaferin A in calli was validated through high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). It was interesting to observe that the PGRs showed significant influence on the secondary metabolites production in callus and 2,4-D having the least effect. Histological studies revealed the origin of shoot tip in the callus during regeneration.

An organized way of preserving macrofungal voucher specimens is considered to be a key aspect of measuring and conserving biodiversity. The procedure adopted till date for macrofungal preservation in a herbarium leads to easy disintegration of the voucher specimens as they possess quick moisture retention and insect/ mite infestation capacity. Here, we propose a way of low cost long term preservation of voucher specimens for deposition in fungarium.