Mushroom diversity of City of Panaji

The capital city of Goa, India

By
Charmaine De Souza and Nandkumar Kamat, Goa University
(First Published in Goa Today, July 2009, Panaji, Goa, India)
We’ ve found a solution to the management of biodegradable part of Panaji’s solid waste in the city
itself. These are the powerful mushrooms which degrade organic matter very efficiently. We have
successfully isolated and maintained biotechnologically valuable cultures. Our finding was an outcome
of meticulous exploration in the city for wild mushrooms. With monsoon we would expect the
mushrooms to sprout everywhere. But apart from those which are edible what do we know about their
diversity?. What is their role in nature, in the wild habitats?. There is a lot of emotional investment in
conservation of tigers, elephants and even frogs. But scanty attention is paid to ecologically useful
fungi especially mushrooms. At Goa University we have done adequate exploration of the rural
habitats. Years of research has established presence of at least 400 species of mushrooms but this may
be just the tip of the biodiversity iceberg. Goa is a highly urbanized region on the west coast. Our state
ranked first in the percentage of urban population during 2001 census and by the time the final figures
of forthcoming 2011 census are out we may cross 60%. Therefore the question of surveying,
cataloguing, documenting, conserving biodiversity of urban habitats becomes a matter of urgent
importance. Our 44 towns have been carved out from original rustic landscapes. Today this original
landscape lies fragmented. Panaji’s Mala ward derives its’ name from the horticultural plantations or
‘mole’ which were sustaining the farmers there. Today this ward on the slopes of Alto de guimares is
densely populated. There are no horticultural plantations. But still few patches of original wild
vegetation survive. In any town it makes sense to locate and conserve such patches or habitats.
Exploration of urban fungal biodiversity has not figured as a priority scientific project in the world.
There had been sporadic studies in some countries and almost none in India. So we decided to look at
our own beautiful capital city as a test case. During 2008 we decided to explore the mushroom diversity
in urban areas. The best known urban area was obviously the capital city of Panaji. We commenced the
work in June 2008 by visiting different wards of Panaji and looking for mushrooms in their natural
habitat - on roadside, below trees, in gardens, on lawns, on litter, sand dunes, beaches etc. And to our
surprise we got very interesting results The research work done by the first author and compiled as a
dissertation titled- “ DIVERSITY AND ECOLOGY OF BASIDIOMYCETES FROM GOA’S
URBANISED ENVIRONMENT: A CASE STUDY OF PANAJI AND SUBURBAN AREAS”, under
the guidance of second author, from Department of Botany, Goa University has been submitted to the
university for a M.Sc. degree. Highlights of this research have been presented at world environment
day function at WWF office this year. A small colour monograph titled ‘Mushroom wealth of Panaji
city” is on the cards. Globally there is scanty attention to impact of urbanization on local microbial
diversity. Macrofungi-such as mushrooms are conspicuous by their vast range of colors, shapes and
sizes. These species perform a variety of ecosystem services and hence are useful as indicators of
ecosystem health, integrity and functioning. Therefore we felt that a macrofungal survey of urban area
can reveal several ecological factors useful in identifying and maintaining natural habitats. We need to
find new ecological and biological indicators for understanding the nature and resilience of urbanized
ecosystems. We were successful in the present study to identify mushrooms as useful indicators in this
regard. Thes inputs are essential for better planning and management of ecological and biological
resources within CCP. The mushrooms which we have catalogued in just one season clearly indicate
that Panaji still has rich biological wealth which needs meticulous conservation.
Urbanization is a process of increasing of an entire population lives in cities and the suburbs of cities. It
involves the movement from village to cities because of lack of economic opportunity in rural areas,
political unrest, and other factors and also involves change in the migrant’s attitudes, beliefs, values and
behavior patterns. A major factor affecting the environment is increase in the human population it
means that there are more people than resources to meet their needs. Urban cities are relatively large
and densely populated which is the opposite case in the rural cities. Habitat loss and over harvesting is
the removal of organisms from the environment and having an impact on the environment itself. Land
use is the dominant factor in an urban area.
By 2050 A.D, coastal areas are to be 50 % urbanized. Natural habitats in urban green areas are under
heavy pressure. The urban population has increased from 21% in 1975 to nearly 28% in 2003 and it is
expected that by 2015. India is the world's fifth-largest producer of global warming gas and emissions.
The pollution problems are more in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. People are attracted to urban
areas because they are more developed than the rural areas. There are facilities like transport services,
housing and drainage facilities, as well as more production of other goods required by the urban
population, which have resulted in the release of large amounts of wastes and pollutants. People’s
health, productivity and their quality of life are diminishing due to the deteriorating urban environment

At present Goa, is highly urbanized state with 50% urban population in 2001, expected to reach 60% in
2011. There are three largest cities in Goa according to 2001 census; Panaji city is Goa's fastest
growing city after Vasco and Margao. Panaji has a population of 59,066 (as per 2001 census) within a
census area of 8.2 Sq. Kms. Open spaces, green belts and natural habitats in Panaji are under
considerable pressure due to land use change, habitat modification and other human interferences.

New town are now emerging from suburban pockets like Aldona, Bandora, Carapur, Covale, Goa
Velha, Saligao, Sanquelim, Aquem and Davorlim. The urban growth of Panaji is spreading in the
direction of Old Goa and Bambolim. The outgrowth from Porvorim is spreading to slowly merge with
the expansion of Mapusa and Guirim. The urban air quality has deteriorated and the traffic system is
clogged. There is genuine fear of new epidemics like leptospirosis and viral hepatitis. Urban drainage
has collapsed and urban watersheds are getting converted and destroyed. There is considerably pressure
on the natural ecosystems in and around the cities the mangroves and sand dunes near Panaji, the
mangroves near Mapusa, the coconut orchards and the paddy fields of Margao.

Biodiversity is threatened by the human activity, which leads to the habitat loss and species extinction.
There are many immediate causes like Growth of human population, Patterns of natural resource and
energy consumption which involves the pressures of tourism, Global trade, Economic systems that fail
to value the environment and its resources, Exploitation of wild living resources which includes
hunting and wildlife trading, Expansion of agriculture, forestry and aquaculture Expansion of transport
systems and building, Habitat loss; especially coral reefs, mushrooms, wetlands, primary forests and
coastlines - all vulnerable and with great biodiversity, introduction of species, Pollution of soil, water
and atmosphere and Global climate change. Global warming destroys the habitats of countless species
leading to the edge of extinction. The forms of ecosystems are currently under assault as never before.
Human beings are currently causing the greatest mass extinction of species. The Conversion of forests,
grasslands, and wetlands for agricultural purposes and the growth of urban centers and the building of
dams and canals, highways, and railways have changed the ecosystems. If the government fails to take
action in due course of time, all the species on earth will be extinct in less than the 1000 years as the
result of human activities.
Our exploration led us to the following locations within CCP:-
Bus Stand, Around Market, Inox Complex, Boca De Vaca, Opp Directorate Of Tourism, Patto,
ALTINHO: Officers Qtrs, Electricity Qtrs, Joggers Park, Nr. Rto Office, CEC Office, Military Camp,
ArchBishops Palace, Around CM’s Residence, Goa State Guest House, ITI Office, Mala, Fontainhas
Slope. CAMPAL: Childrens’ Park, Kala Academy, Indoor Stadium. MIRAMAR sand dunes and Beach.
MUSHROOM HABITATS OF PANAJI:
Panaji has fragmented habitats; there is negligible patches of old tree/vegetation cover except small
parts of Altinho slopes. Mushroom habitats included Grasslands, gardens and lawns, humus rich Soil,
living and dying trees, tree roots, wooden logs, twigs, branches, decaying plant litter, sand dunes,
herbivore dung, termite hills.
Mushroom biodiversity of Panaji at a glance
Collection of mushrooms began
cin June and continued till December 2008 and about 15-20 locations were surveyed. 19
basidiomycetes families, 72 species (compared to all Goa diversity of about 400 mushroom species)
were identified. Majority of mushroom species collected were saprotrophic (which decay dead organic
litter and release nutrients to soil) , followed by nectrotrophic (which attack wounds on living trees or
aged and dying trees) and biotrophic (which partner with plants, algae or insects for mutual benefit )
species. Details of some interesting species have been given in the table. Interestingly we found edible
species such as Macrolepiota, Pleurotus, Termitomyces, Volvariella in Panaji’s urban habitats.
However, we don’t recommend any reader or citizen to pick up any wild mushroom for consumption.
Wrong identity may lead to poisoning. Many species such as Agaricus augustus, are relatively rare in
Goa but have found a sanctuary in Panaji. This is remarkable because rural areas of Goa are blindly
imitating a model of unrestricted and haphazard urbanization and really don ‘t know what they are
losing in this landscape transformation. We think that citizens of Panaji need to take their city’s
mushroom wealth seriously.

MUSHROOM DIVERSITY OF CITY OF PANAJI, 2008-2009

Mushroom Species
Location
Scientific name and (common
name)

Agaricus augustus Market- Panaji

[The prince]

Agaricus tax.sp.I Campal – Miramar

area
[ gilled mushroom]

Agaricus tax.sp.II Altinho

[ gilled mushroom]

Chlorophyllum molybdites Altinho

[green spored parasol]

Cystolepiota tax.sp. I Altinho

Lepiota cristata Campal – Miramar

area
[ brown eyed parasol]

Leucoagaricus Altinho

Macrolepiota rhacodes Altinho

[shaggy parasol]

Macrolepiota puellaris Altinho

Amanita tax.sp.I Altinho

[death cap]

Termitomyces microcarpus F. Altinho

Longiradiata

Termitomyces clypeatus Altinho

Coprinus tax.sp.I Campal – Miramar

 area

[Inky Caps]

Coprinus comatus Campal – Miramar

area
[Shaggy Mane]

Hygrophorus tax.sp.I Patto, Panaji Bus

Stand
[waxy caps]

Hygrophorus tax.sp.II Altinho

[waxy caps]

Volvariella volvaceae Altinho

[straw mushroom]

Volvariella tax.sp.II [straw Altinho

mushroom]

Pholiota tax.sp.II Campal – Miramar

area
[terrestrial pholiota]

Calocybe cerina Altinho

Clitocybe gibba Altinho

[ funnel cap]

Collybia dryophila Campal – Miramar

area
[Common collybia; oak loving
collybia]
Collybia distorta Campal – Miramar
area

Lepista nuda Campal – Miramar

area
[ Blewit]

Lepista nuda Campal – Miramar

area
[ Blewit]

Lyophyllum tax.sp.I Campal – Miramar

area
[white spored mushroom]

Marasmius tax.sp.III Altinho

Mycena leaianade Althinho

Mycena tax.sp.I Campal – Miramar

area

Boletus aestavalis Altinho

[summer king]

Boletus goanensis Altinho

Clavulina tax.sp.I Campal – Miramar

area
[ coral mushroom]

Ganoderma lucidium Patto, Panaji Bus

Stand
[varnished conk]

Ganoderma lucidium Market- Panaji

[varnished conk]

Ganoderma appalnatum Campal – Miramar

area
[artist conk]

Ramaria tax.sp.I Altinho

[coral fungi]

Bovista plumbea [Puff Ball] Campal – Miramar

area

Bovista plumbea Campal – Miramar

area
[Puff Ball]

Phallus impudicus Altinho

[Stinkhorn]

Pleurotus cystidiosus Campal – Miramar

area
[Oyster mushroom]

Polyporus arcularis Campal – Miramar

area
[Fringed Polypore]

Schizophyllum commune Altinho

[Split Gill]
Pisolithus albus Patto, Panaji Bus
Stand
[Puff Ball]

Thelephora palmata Campal – Miramar

area
[Fetid False Coral]

Ecological importance of Panaji’s mushrooms

There is mycorrhizal association i.e., the relationship between fungus and plant. Fungus gets carbon
from plant and plant gets phosphorus from mycorrhizae. We found that mushrooms species such as
Pisolithus, Ramaria helpo the trees in Panaji to establish well.

Saprotrophic species mineralize organic matter and return nutrients to soil, environment.
Biotrophic species have complex and mutually beneficial relationship with plants and insects. The large
number of saprotrophic species shwed us that these are Panaji’s natural composting agents. Our
estimate is that every year hundreds of tones of dead plant matter is transformed by the mycelium of
these mushrooms in the soil and these nutrients enrich the soil of the city. Nectrotrophic species are
opportunistic pathogens, sometimes they kill the trees. So now we can even recommend the action to
be taken so that these unwanted pathogens could be eliminated.
Economic importance of mushrooms: - We identified several species which are biotechnologically
useful. Many species like Pkeurotus, Volvariella and Lepista nuda can be cultivated. Besides we were
successful in isolating 31 cultures from as many species. These cultures are our way of ensuring’ ex
situ conservation’ of the genetic resources of the city. Many of these are medicinally important.

Significance of this work:

This is the

pioneer study on urban mushroom diversity in Goa and India. A species new to Goa was identified in
our work e.g. Macrolepiota puellaris. We also suspect that we have come across a few more novel
species. Information on these is being compiled for scientific papers. That would really make Panaji a
haven of urban mushroom biodiversity. Surveys again this year are likely to reveal more mushroom
wealth.
Mushroom biodiversity conservation:
There is need to conserve the natural habitats in situ. The CCP and citizens need to compost
plant litter in the same place instead of burning. We need to protect existing tree cover especially old
trees with large canopy covers. There is need to conserve existing sand dunes, grasslands, open places,
vegetated areas, vegetated slopes and green patches at Altinho, Campal, and Miramar etc. We would be
presenting a detail “Sustainable mushroom biodiversity ecoconservation action plan to the Mayor of
CCP” soon. We welcome local city NGOs to come forward to know more about this work and its’ long
term significance and relevance in the discourse on sustainable urbanization and biodiversity
management. We would also upload image gallery and showcase our work for public education and
environmental/biodiversity awareness on our blog-http://www.mushroomsofgoa.blogspot.com. We
acknowledge the help from UGC-SAP project of Botany department which made this work possible.