A checklist of wild mushrooms in three urban parks in Kolkata, India

Abstract

In addition to having nutritional benefits, macrofungi have also been used medicinally. As a result, it is crucial to both the economy and the environment. This study was conducted from May 2020 to June 2022 in three urban parks in Kolkata, a major city in the Indian state of West Bengal. Twenty-eight fungal specimens were identified in this investigation, out of which 99% of the taxa are Basidiomycota, while only 1% is Ascomycota. The taxa belonged to 18 families and eight orders. Sixteen species were discovered in wood, notably over the dry stems of bamboo, and ten were discovered in soil, particularly in grasslands, over rotten dry leaves, and one over organic debris. Eleven of the specimens are edible, whereas the other eight are not. Out of 28 species, 32.14% of species are unknown. Among the three urban parks, viz., Ecopark, Central Park, and Elliot Park, macrofungal diversity was found to be the highest in Ecopark, followed by Central Park and Elliot Park. This study demonstrates the macrofungal diversity in three urban parks in Kolkata. The current study creates new opportunities for the investigation and use of wild mushrooms in urban parks in Kolkata.