Diversity of Boletaceae in Kashmir Himalaya with Some Hitherto Unreported Species and Generic Records

Mushrooms belonging to the Boletaceae family hold significant ecological and economic value. However, given the apt temperate habitat compounded with the paucity of any exclusive study of the family in Kashmir Himalaya, the region is least represented by the family compared to other Himalayan states. Therefore, an exclusive study dedicated to the survey and collection of Boletaceous mushrooms was carried out which resulted in the identification of 10 species and 4 genera based on key macro and micro morphological characteristics, Rubroboletus, and Butyriboletus are reported for the first time from India, while Caloboletus, Aureoboletus, Porphyrellus porphyrosporus and Xerocomus fraternus, are reported for the first time from Jammu and Kashmir. Likewise, Neoboletus luridiformis, Boletus himalayensis, and Veloporphyrellus latisporus are herein also reported for the first time from Kashmir Himalaya.