Diversity, Ethno Mycological Significance, and Toxicity of Macro Fungi from Durg, Rajnandgaon, Kawardha, and Bastar Districts of Chhattisgarh, India
Keywords:
Macrofungi, Termitomyces, Ethnomycology, Mushroom Poisoning, Chhattisgarh, Tribal Knowledge, Sustainable HarvestingAbstract
Chhattisgarh, central India, possesses diverse forest ecosystems and a large tribal population that relies on wild mushrooms for food and
income. However, systematic documentation of macrofungi from the Durg, Rajnandgaon, Kawardha, and Bastar regions remains lacking. This study aimed to compile a comprehensive inventory of edible and nonedible/toxic macrofungi from these four districts (2022–2025), doc ument ethnomycological knowledge, and highlight public health risks from poisonous lookalikes.Field surveys were conducted monthly from June 2022 to February 2025 across 18 visits. Macrofungi were collected, photographed, and identified using morphological keys. Semistructured interviews were carried out with 62 tribal informants across 12 villag es. Toxicity classification followed standard references.A total of 30 macrofungal species were documented – 20 edible and 10 nonedible/ toxic. Edible species included five Termitomyces taxa, with T. mam miformis recorded for the first time in Chhattisgarh. Bastar district showed the highest edible species richness (18 species). Toxic species included three deadly taxa: Galerina marginata (amatoxins), Cortinarius orellanus and C. rubellus (orellanine) – the latter two reported for the first time from tropical central India. Other toxic species (Amanita muscaria, Omphalotus olearius, Clitocybe dealbata) pose risks of mis identification with edible chanterelles and milky mushrooms. Tribal informants highly valued Termitomyces heimii (91% citation) and T. clypeatus (87%), and women’s selfhelp groups successfully cultivat ed Pleurotus flabellatus. The Durg, Rajnandgaon, Kawardha, Bastar region harbors a rich macro fungal diversity of food and economic importance, but also harbors deadly toxic species requiring urgent public health interventions. . We recommend a pictorial field guide for distinguishing toxic look alikes, clinical training on mushroom poison ing syndromes, and sustainable harvesting protocols for commercially valuable wild species.
How to cite this article:
Nirmalkar D, Naidu V L, Prasad D, Diversity, Ethno
Mycological Significance, and Toxicity of Macro Fungi
from Durg, Rajnandgaon, Kawardha, and Bastar
Districts of Chhattisgarh, India. J Adv Res Alt Energ
Env Eco 2025; 13(1&2): 7-17.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2455.3093.202615
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