DISTRIBUTION IN UZBEKISTAN OF POLYPORUS TUBERASTER FR. (Polyporaceae, Basidiomycota)

ABSTRACT

Cerioporus is a genus of fungi belonging to the Polyporaceae family. Members of the genus are saprotrophs and grow parasitically on decaying wood of deciduous trees and growing trees. In conifers, only a few species are known. In this article, we report a new record of Cerioporus squamosus from Langar and Nishon districts, Qamashi District, Kashkadarya Region, Republic of Uzbekistan, which is the first record of this species in Kashkadarya. C. squamosus  fruits were found in several places of the region and were identified based on their morphological characteristics. 2 mushroom bodies were found from a chopped tree trunk of Sálix álba, 1 fruit body from a growing Junglans regia tree, and 3 fruit bodies from a dead poplar Populus alba tree near a stream. We present its morphological description and photographs, and discuss our findings in the context of previously known records of this species.

АННОТАЦИЯ

Cerioporus - это род грибов, принадлежащих к семейству Polyporaceae. Членами рода являются сапротрофы и растут паразитически на разлагаемом древесине лиственных деревьев и растущих деревьев. В хвойных деревьях известны лишь несколько видов. В этой статье мы сообщаем о новой записи о Cerioporus squamosus из районов Лангар и Нишон, район Камаши, Кашкадарьинского  региона, Узбекистана, который является первым отчетом об этом виде в Кашкадарье. Плоды C.squamosus были обнаружены в нескольких местах региона и были идентифицированы на основе их морфологических характеристик. 2 грибных тела были найдены из нарезанного ствола дерева Саликс Албы, 1 фруктового тела из растущего дерева регйской джунгланов и 3 фруктовых тел из мертвого тополя Alba Tree возле потока. Мы представляем его морфологическое описание и фотографии и обсуждаем наши выводы в контексте ранее известных записей этого вида.

Keywords: macromycete, Polyporus fungi, fruit body, spores, mycelium, mycology, xylotroph.

Ключевые слова: макромицет, полипор грибов, фруктовый корпус, споры, мицелий, микология, ксилотроф

INTRODUCTION

Cerioporus squamosus (Huds.) Quél., fungus belongs to Polyporaceae family, Polyporus genus, it was first described in 1796 by the Dutch naturalist Nicholas Joseph von Jakkin, who gave it the binomial Boletus tuberaster as a scientific name (Piątek, 2005). Later, the Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Friss redescribed this species in 1821 and transferred it to the genus Cerioporus, and it is now called as a Cerioporus squamosus [19].

The name of the C. squamosus  fungus is derived from the Greek word meaning "many-eyed". This name of the fungus can be attributed to the presence of very small tubes and many spotted spots on the cap [20]. C. squamosus  is a xylotroph or tree parasite, growing in gardens in mixed and broad-leaved forests and on dead trees, rarely on growing trees [5]. In the Orenburg region, the macrofungus C. squamosus  is included in the list of rare promising species [18].

The fungus C. squamosus  grows on dead trees such as oak, maple, and birch in temperate and subtropical forests. It emerges from the tree bark at the end of summer or beginning of autumn [14].

For many years, C. squamosus  has been used in Chinese medicine for its anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and antiviral properties [21]. Polysaccharides, mainly beta-glucan components, are found in large quantities in C. squamosus  fungus. These complex carbohydrates have an immunomodulatory effect by increasing the production of cytokines that reduce the activity of white blood cells and regulate inflammation and immunity. Beta-glucans obtained from fungi can be used as a means of reducing the growth and reproduction of cancer cells by reducing cell death and the formation of new blood vessels [23].

Until now, this species has not been recorded in Central Asia [22, 11, 4, 8, 6, 7].

In 2023, during our mycological observation in the territories of Kashkadarya region (Uzbekistan), we found several basidiomata identified as P. tuberaster according to morphological data. As a result, we present the first find of C. squamosus in the Kashkadarya region of Uzbekistan.

"The purpose of this study is to document the first occurrence of Polyporus tuberaster in Uzbekistan, providing detailed morphological and ecological characteristics, and to discuss its significance within the regional biodiversity and potential applications in biotechnology."

In addition, J.P. Sherkulova and E.Y. Eshonkulov [1, 2], are conducting scientific research on obtaining pure cultures of macrofungi in the conditions of Uzbekistan. This article presents information about the spread and characteristics of the C. squamosus  fungus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Kashkadarya region is located in the northern part of the subtropical region, in the south of Uzbekistan, south of the center of the natural geographical region of Central Asia, between northern latitudes and 640231 - 670421 eastern longitudes. Langar village, Qamashi district, Kashkadarya region, 38°41'N 66°45′E. 38°33′N 65°34′E is located in the southwestern part of Nishan district (Fig.1).

Figure 1. The identified map of Cerioporus squamosus macrofungus in Kashkadarya region

Regionally diverse plant communities are found within the region, providing habitat for several rare and hitherto unreported macrofungi. Our study area is dominated by walnut and poplar and willow trees. Polyporiod fungi are widespread and occur on a variety of substrates such as dead or living wood.

Morphological study. March 22, 2023, Langar village, Qamashi district (Sálix álba), 2 mushrooms from a chopped tree trunk, 1 growing mushroom (Junglans regia), 11.04. 2023 In Pakhtaabad village, Nishan district, 3 fruiting bodys were found from a dried poplar tree (Populus alba) near the stream. Collecting mushrooms requires scientific expertise and care.

Identification of the fungus was carried out by preparing temporary preparations in laboratory conditions and using a B-382PHiALC DC6V1000 mA digital microscope to view 50 spores and measure them using detectors [4, 11] samples are stored in the macrofungi collection of Karshi State University in Kashkadarya region.

Identification of the species was carried out using modern identifiers. The fungus C. squamosus  was compared with data listed in several electronic databases, including NCBI ID: 38806, MycoBank ID: 201272, and Fungorum Index Code: 201272.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The fruiting body of the fungus is annual, soft at first, and then woody. The mycelium is inside the trunk of the tree, and the surface is yellowish-brown, forming a soft velvety fruit. The fruit is fleshy, runny or light yellowish brown when fresh. It consists of a cap and a side leg, and grows firmly attached to the bark. The width of the cap is 6-15 cm, the thickness is 0.5-1.5 cm, the wood is simple, round, semi-circular ( Fig.2). The lower surface of the cap is covered with small, white to yellowish pores that release spores for reproduction.

Figure 2. A. Cerioporus squamosus on a growing Juglans regia L. tree; B: pores and tubes on the underside of the C: fungi; D: Microscopic view of spores

On the lower side of the fruiting body, there is a hymenophore consisting of interconnected tubes (Fig.2B). They are connected to each other by the sides of these tubes and their inner surface is covered with hymenium. Pores and tubes are 1-2 mm long and 0.5-1 mm wide, and the corners are often slightly radially elongated, forming white-brown layers (Fig.2).

The fungus C. squamosus  smells like licorice and cheese. Spores are 10-16 x 4-7 µm, cylindrical, oblong. The spore-forming hyphal parts of the fungus are very finely branched and very thin, mostly sparsely branched, thick-walled and variable in diameter, 3-10 μm wide, sometimes protruding in the form of apical swellings. Spores are elongated cylindrical, smooth 12-14 x 4.0–5.0 µm. Spores are white (Fig.2D).

Although the territory of Kashkadarya region has high biodiversity, mycological studies were conducted in some regions of Uzbekistan.

The macrofungi of the southern regions of Uzbekistan, especially the territory of Kashkadarya region, have not been studied at all.

It was observed that C. squamosus  is found in parasitic and saprophytic form in representatives of Juglandaceae and Salicaceae families. Parasitic species secrete enzymes from themselves in tree trunks. Under the influence of these enzymes, lignin and cellulose of trees rot and turn into powder.

Currently, this research is carried out on the basis of a practical project on the topic "Development of edible, medicinal mushrooms distributed in the territory of Kashkadarya region and the technology of their cultivation in artificial nutrient media". The diversity of C. squamosus  found throughout the regions of the province was studied. As a result, we present the first find of C. squamosus in the Kashkadarya region of Uzbekistan. (Fig.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, identification of Cerioporus species depends, first of all, on the presence of fruiting body in the center, holes and tubes in the lower part of the cap [9]. Our findings of C. squamosus  found in the territory of Uzbekistan are distinguished by the formation of yellow-brown, round, semicircular fruit bodies. Morphologically, our samples of C. squamosus  are similar to samples from South America and Canada [10, 17].

We assume that the fungus was introduced to Uzbekistan by the roots of seedlings of various plants or by spores spread in different ways.

It is necessary to use more detailed morphological and molecular genetic methods of C. squamosus  species in Uzbekistan and determine their current modern taxonomic position. Also, in the conditions of Uzbekistan, one of the urgent tasks facing our scientists is the intensive breeding of edible and medicinal mushroom species with the help of biotechnological methods and the development of ways to use them in the national economy. C. squamosus  fungus can be considered as a fungus with great potential in mycological and biotechnological research.

C. squamosus  fungus can be considered as a fungus with great potential in mycological and biotechnological research. In the next research, it has been aimed to obtain pure cultures of the fungus, multiply seed mycelium, plant it on different substrates and study its medicinal properties.

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