The genus Volvariella from Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India

Abstract

In the present paper, six species of Volvariella, namely, Volvariella bombycina var. flaviceps, V. earlei, V.hypopithys, V.pusilla, V. speciosa var.gloiocephala and V. speciosa var. speciosa have been described from varied habitats and substrates of Mount Abu, Rajasthan.

Full text

J. Mycopathol. Res. 59(1) : 63-66 2021;
ISSN 0971-3719
© Indian Mycological Society,
Department of Botany,
University of Calcutta,
Kolkata 700 019, India
This article is protected by copyright and all other rights
under the jurisdiction of the Indian Mycological Society.
The copy is provided to the author(s) for internal non-
commercial research and educational purposes.
REENU CHOUHAN AND CHARU PANWAR
The genus Volvariella from Mount Abu,
Rajasthan, India

J. Mycopathol. Res. 59(1) : 63-66, 2021; (ISSN 0971-3719)
© Indian Mycological Society, Department of Botany,
University of Calcutta, Kolkata 700 019, India
Received : 25.01.2021 Accepted : 22.02.2021 Published : 29.03.2021
The genus Volvariella from Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India
Correspondence: reenu.chouhan@gmail.com
REENU CHOUHAN*AND CHARU PANWAR
S.S.Jain Subodh PG Autonomous College, Jaipur 302015, Rajasthan
In the present paper, six species of Volvariella, namely, Volvariella bombycina var. flaviceps, V. earlei,
V.hypopithys, V.pusilla, V. speciosa var.gloiocephala and V. speciosa var. speciosa have been described
from varied habitats and substrates of Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
Key words: Agaricales, Basidiomycetes, macrofungi, taxonomy
INTRODUCTION
Geographical conditions and climatic conditions of
Mount Abu are very different from the rest of
Rajasthan, a state of India in which desert
conditions are prevalent, monsoon rains are scarce
and vegetation is mostly xeromorphic and
xerophytic. Mount Abu, situated at a height of 1220
metres above mean sea level experiences a cool
and pleasant climate with conditions of wetness,
low temperatures all the year round ranging from
11-28! , good monsoon rains with average 67-177
cms, dense flora of Angiosperms, Gymnosperms,
Pteridophytes and mosses paving a way for
luxuriant growth of mushrooms on a wide variety of
substrates. During mycofloristic explorations, widely
diverse mushrooms have been reported from
varied habitats and substrates from various
localities of Mount Abu like lignicolous , humus rich
habitats, ectomycorrhizal , grassy habitat , amongst
leaf litter, on living and dead deciduous and
coniferous trees(Chouhan et al 2010).
Diversity of mushrooms specially agarics is
maximum as it is evident during surveys carried
out in various localities of Mount Abu . The genus
Volvariella Sp of family Pluteaceae is characterized
by small ,medium or large fruiting bodies, convex
to expanded, with free, pink, crowded gills, central
stipe, volva distinctly present, basidiospores ovoid
to ellipsoid, smooth, hymenophoral trama
convergent type, pileal surface an undifferentiated
repent epicutis of radially parallel hyphae, clamp
connections mostly absent.
The genus Volvariella is represented by 50 species
world over (Kirk et al.2008). In India, taxonomic
description of some species has been given from
various parts of the country ( Atri et al. 2005;
Natrajan et al. 2005; Kumar et al. 2009; Datta et
al. 2011, Kumaresan et.al, 2011; Senthilarasu et
al. 2012; Kaur et al. 2013).
In the present communication, six species of
Volvariella namely, Volvariella bombycina var.
flaviceps, V. earlei, V. hypopithys, V. pusilla, V.
speciosa var.gloiocephala and V. speciosa var.
speciosa have been described from different
habitats of Mount Abu.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Mushrooms were collected from various localities
of Mount Abu where natural vegetation was in
abundance. Field notes were prepared relating to
various characters like morphology, size , shape ,
colour, substrate of growth according to
mushroom identifier key (Jordan 1995, Pegler
1977). Ethanobotanical information and local
uses were also noted along with date and time of
collection. Field photography was done for all the
mushrooms in their natural habitat. The specimens
were carefully dug out and cleaned gently with the

[ J. Mycopathol. Res. :64 Volvariella from Mt. Abu
help of brush to remove soil particles and litter.
The specimens were then placed in small card
board boxes or paper bags after assigning a
specimen number and a label with necessary
information. Further, macroscopic and microscopic
observations were made in the laboratory by using
specific terminology and characters .(Singer 1962,
Pegler, 1977).All the collections have been
deposited under JNV/Mycl in the Herbarium of
Botany Department, Jai Narain Vyas University,
Jodhpur, Rajasthan(India). During the present
investigation, authentic names, basionym and
synonyms of the investigated taxa are according
to the Dictionary of Fungi (Kirk et al. 2008) and
Mycobank (www.mycobank.org). Mushroom
photographs of the field and microscopic
photographs with section of gills and spores have
been given with this communication. All
photographs are copyright of the authors Reenu
Chouhan and Charu Panwar.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Taxonomic Observations
Volvariella bombycina var. flaviceps (Murrill)
Shaffer, Mycologia 49: 560(1957).
Basionym and Synonym: Volvaria flaviceps Murrill,
Mycologia 41:490(1949)
Pileus 3-3.5 cm,bright flavous uniformly,
campanulate, solitary, surface dry , fibrillose,
margin fimbriate. Stipe 3.3-4 x 0.5- 1.1 cm , white,
curved , glabrous, enlarging below, volva 3-4 cm
high and 2.0 cm at the top, tapering towards the
base, dry, dirty white with large, flat umbrinous
scales. Lamellae white, crowded, free, thin, entire.
context thin, white, unchanging. Spores 7.5- 10
µm x 4.7-6.5µm, shape ovoid to oval, pointed.
Basidia clavate, 4-spored. Pleurocystidia 20-91 x
8-32 µm, fusoid-ventricose or clavate, abundant.
Cheilocystidia 34-75 x 1—25µm, fusoid-
ventricose,lanceoloid or clavate. (Fig 1 a-c).
Material examined – India, Rajasthan, Mount Abu
growing solitary on wood .July 28, 2019, Reenu
Chouhan JNV/Mycl / 52.
Discussion – Taxonomic description of the genus
Volvariella bombycina var.flaviceps (Murrill) Shaffer
is being obtained for the first time from this region.
It is a new fungus record for the country, India.
Volvariella bombycina has been described earlier
from various parts of the country but variety
flaviceps is the yellow variety, Volvariella bombycina
var. flaviceps, in which cap is “uniformly bright-
flavous.” The details are in close agreement to
species described earlier.
Volvariella earlei (Murrill) Shaffer Mycologia 49(4):
550(1957)
Basionym: Volvariopsis earlei Murrill,Mycologia
3(6):282(1911)
Synomyms: Volvariopsis earlei Murrill,Mycologia
3(6):282(1911)
Volvaria earlei Murrill Mycologia 4(6):332(1912)
Volvopluteus earlei (Murrill)Vizzini, Contu &Justo,
Fungal Biology 115(1):15(2011)
Pileus 3.5-5.0cm diameter,white to pinkish-gray,
discolouring with age, convex, expanding,
glabrous, striate on the margin. Stipe 4.5-9.5
cm,0.8-1.0cm diameter, white , concolorous to the
pileus, tapering upwards from enlarged base, solid,
glabrous. Volva 5-10 mm high, vaginate, white to
pinkish gray. Lamellae white, flesh pink ,crowded,
broad,free. Basidia clavate, 4-
spored.Pleurocystidia 30-60 x 15-30 µm, clavate
or obovoid.Cheilocystidia 24-74 µm x 8-30 µm,
fusoid, clavate, abundant. Spores 11.5 x 15.0µm x
6.5-8.5 µm,oval or ovoid or obovoid (Fig.1 d-f).
Material examined – India, Rajasthan, Mount Abu
growing gregarious on soil .July 10, 2018, Reenu
Chouhan JNV/Mycl / 42.
Discussion – Taxonomic description of the genus
Volvariella earlei (Murrill) Shaffer is being obtained
for the first time from this region. It is a new fungus
record for Mount Abu, Rajasthan, North West India.
The details are in close agreement to species
described earlier.
The taxonomy of the genus has been described
from Spain (Justo and Castro,2010).In India, the
genus has been described from Punjab state.
Volvariella speciosa var. gloiocephala ( DC.)Singer,
Lilioa 22:401(1951)
Basionym: Agaricus gloiocephalus DC.,
Flore.Franc.6:52(1815)
Pileus 5-10 cm diameter,dull white or fulvous pearl
gray ,ovoid when young,expanding campanulate
convex to plane but umbonate,viscid, glabrous,
,margin fully striate, flesh thin. Stipe 8-15 cm x 1.2-

: 59(1)March, 2021] 65
Reenu Chouhan and Charu Panwar
Fig 1. Habit (a,d,g,i,l,n), Section of gills showing basidia and cystidia (b,e,h,j,m,o) and spores (c,f,k,p) of - (a-c) Volvariella bombycina
var. flaviceps (d-f) Volvariella earlei (g-h) Volvariella speciosa var. gloiocephala (i-k) Volvariella speciosa var. speciosa (l-m)
Volvariella hypopithys (n-p) Volvariella pusilla ( Basidia and cystidia , Scale 1cm =15 µm ; Spores, Scale 1cm =10µm )
2.0 cm white,terete,enlarging to lobed
base,soild,glabrous, volva with margin even or
lobed, white. Lamellae white, later flesh- pink,
crowded or so, broad front, narrow behind. Basidia
clavate, 4-spored.Pleurocystidia 40-90 x 15- 36
µm,clavate,fusoid,sub- cylindrical, fusoid-
ventricose. Cheilocystidia 35-65 x 10-30 µm, fusoid
–ventricose. Spores 11.5-15.5µm x 7.5-8.0
µm,ovoid or oval.(Fig 1 g-h).
Material examined – India, Rajasthan, Mount Abu
growing on soil and leaf litter .July 02, 2015, Reenu
Chouhan JNV/Mycl / 43.
Discussion –The Volvariella speciosa var.
gloiocephala ( DC.)Singer, Lilioa is being described
for the first time from this region. It is a new fungus
record for Mount Abu, Rajasthan, North West India.
The details are in close agreement to species
described earlier (Shaffer,1957). Earlier, the
taxonomy of the genus has been described from
West Bengal, India ( Dutta et al 2011 ) .
Volvariella speciosa var. speciosa(Fr.ex.Fr.)Singer,
Lilioa 22:401(1951)
Basionym: Amanita speciosa Fr.Observationes
mycolicae 1:1(1815).
Pileus 5-14 cm,white to light avellaneous on light
brownish grey, ovoid to globose when young,
expanding to convex, viscid ,shiny, glabrous,
margin striate slightly, flesh thick in the centre, thin
towards the margins, pinkish-white, soft. Stipe 10-
20 cm x 1.0-2.0 cm, enlarging towards base,
glabrous base slightly villose,volva shallow, lobed
margin free, white. Basidia clavate, 4-spored.
Pleurocystidia 30-95 µm x11-18 µm,clavate,
fusoid-ventricose. Cheilocystidia 22-90 µm x 9-38
µm, clavate, sometimes with a slender projection,
fusoid, abundant. Spores 11.5- 18.5µm x 7.5-12.5
µm,oval to ovoid (Fig 1 i-k).
Material examined – India, Rajasthan, Mount Abu
growing in groups on agricultural residues. July
10,2014, Reenu Chouhan JNV/Mycl / 44.

[ J. Mycopathol. Res. :66 Volvariella from Mt. Abu
Discussion –The Volvariella speciosa var. speciosa
(Fr.ex.Fr.)Singer is being described for the first
time from this region. It is a new fungus record for
Mount Abu, Rajasthan, North West India. The
details are in close agreement to species described
earlier.In India, the genus has been described from
Kerala, South India.
Volvariella hypopithys ( Fr.)M.M Moser, Kleine
Kryptogam. Von Mitt.Die la und Bau. 2:110(1953
)Basionym: Agaricus hypopithys Fr.
Hymenomycetes europaei:183(1874).
Pileus 2-6 cm diameter, white, campanulate to
convex, subumbonate, dry, fibrillose, silky, margin
slightly striate.Stipe 2-8cm in length x 0.3- 0.5
cm,white, terete, with a bulbous base, solid,
densely villose, volva membranous, wavy,
lobed.Lamellae flesh-pink , crowded, narrow, edges
fimbriate, white. Basidia clavate, 4-spored.
Pleurocystidia 15-70 x 8-30 µm, fusoid to fusoid-
ventricose, sometimes with a enlarged apex or
constricted base,abundant.Cheilocystidia 20-85 x
8-35 µm, fusoid – venticose, clavate or dumbbell
shape. Spores 5.0 - 6.5µm x 3.3- 4.0 µm, ovoid
(Fig 1 l-m).
Material examined – India, Rajasthan, Mount Abu
growing on humus – rich soil and leaf litter. July
02,2018, Reenu Chouhan JNV/Mycl / 56.
Discussion –The Volvariella hypopithys (Fr.)M.M
Moser )is being described for the first time from
this region. It is a new fungus record for Mount
Abu, Rajasthan, North West India. The details are
in close agreement to species described earlier.
The taxonomy of the genus has been described
from Kerala, South India.
Volvariella pusilla( Pers.)Singer, Lilioa
22:401(1951)
Basionym: Amanita pusilla Pers. Observationes
mycolicae 2:36(1800)
Pileus 0.5-2.5cm diameter,greyish –brown ,ovoid
when young but expanding to campanulate-
convex, umbonate, viscid at first later dry,
appressed fibrillose, margin distinctly striate, flesh
thin. Stipe 3-6cm in length x 0.2- 0.5 cm,white,
tapering towards apex, soild or hollow, fibrillose,
volva glabrous, greyish , wavy,lobed. Lamellae
white later flesh-pink ,free, edges entire. Basidia
clavate, 4-spored. Pleurocystidia 24-70 x 7-20 µm,
clavate to dumbbell shaped.Cheilocystidia 21-60
x 7-20 µm, clavate or dumbbell shape. Spores 5.7-
7.5 x µm x 4.5- 6.5 µm, ovoid (Fig 1 n-p).
Material examined – India, Rajasthan, Mount Abu
growing on humus- rich moist soil. July 10,2017,
Reenu Chouhan JNV/Mycl /61.
Discussion –The Volvariella pusilla ( Pers.)Singer
is being described for the first time from this region.
It is a new fungus record for Mount Abu, Rajasthan,
North West India. The details are in close
agreement to species described earlier.
In India.the taxonomy of the genus has been
described from West Bengal , India (Dutta et al
2011) and from Kerala, South India.
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