e-ISSN: 3107-6203

Authors: Paras Nath Singh*, Shiwali Rana, Kadambari Subhash Pawar, and Sanjay K. Singh

National Fungal Culture Collection of India (NFCCI), Biodiversity and Palaeobiology (Fungi) Group, MACS Agharkar Research Institute, G. G. Agarkar Road, Pune, 411 004, India.

*Corresponding author: Paras Nath Singh: E-mail: pnsingh@aripune.org 

Abstract

This study documents the occurrence of Pleurotus cystidiosus, a pleurotoid basidiomycete repeatedly recorded and isolated from crevices on the living trunk of Madhuca longifolia over three consecutive monsoon seasons, consistently emerging from the same substratum of the host tree. The species' identity was confirmed using a polyphasic approach that integrated detailed morphological observations, cultural characteristics, and multilocus phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and LSU rDNA sequences. This integrative approach provides a reliable framework for accurate taxonomic identification, particularly for morphologically complex agaricomycetes. Re-documentation of an important taxon that includes sexual and asexual morphs serves as a useful reference for the next generation of researchers, demonstrating how classical morphology can effectively complement molecular tools.

Keywords: Fungi, Pleurotaceae, Phylogeny, Epigeous, Taxonomy, India.

Document Type: Original Research

Citation: Singh PN, Rana S, Pawar K, & Singh SK. (2026). Morphotaxonomic and Phylogenetic Study of Pleurotus cystidiosus isolated from Madhuca longifolia from Western Ghats, India. Mycological Spectrum 2(2): 01-12.

Received: 08 February 2026 | Accepted: 02 March 2026 | Published: 12 March 2026.

Handling Editor: Dr. S.K. Deshmukh | Reviewers: Prof. N.S. Atri & Prof. Susanna Badalyan.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64993/MS.2.2.1