PJB-2019-464
Phylogenetic and Anatomical Study of Morchella elata from Western Himalaya Azad Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan
Tariq Saiff Ullah
Abstract
Morels are highly medicinal and nutritionally important edible fungi growing naturally in the wild. These are collected and consumed by the people from ancient times. Morchella species are polymorphic and difficult to identify a morel on the basis of morphology. This study was conducted in the Neelum valley Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Fruiting bodies of morel were collected from the field during the year 2016-18. Morphological features shape, color, length &width of ascospores, fruiting season and type of substrate of fruiting body were noted during field. Anatomical study was carried out by observing cross sections from Pileus and stalk. Morphological features of cap, size (Width length), shape and number of Ascospores with in ascus, confirmed the identification. Fruiting bodies are brow to light dark with rounded to ellipsoidal spores. DNA extraction and Phylogenetic characterization was also carried out. Amplification and sequencing of ITS regions (ITS1&ITS4) revealed that the collected morel specie was Morchella elata. This study will be helpful in the collection, identification and further application of this species as a source of food and medicines in future. It was the first study from the region on molecular characterization that confirms the morel species as Morchella elata.
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