LONGDING : A team from ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Longding has recorded a striking yellow-coloured puffball mushroom growing naturally on decaying woody debris and organic-rich soil at Zedua village in Longding district, highlighting the rich yet underexplored fungal biodiversity of Arunachal Pradesh.

The specimen was observed during a field visit on June 4 and was tentatively identified as Bovista colorata (Yellow Puffball Mushroom) by ICAR-KVK Longding SMS (Plant Pathology) Dr Deep Narayan Mishra based on its characteristic yellow globose fruiting body and puffball-like morphology.

According to Dr Mishra, detailed microscopic examination and molecular characterisation will be required for definitive taxonomic confirmation. However, a preliminary review of available scientific literature indicates that documented records of the species from Longding district are currently lacking.

If confirmed, the observation could represent one of the earliest documented field records of Bovista colorata from the district and a valuable addition to the known macrofungal diversity of Arunachal Pradesh.

Unlike conventional mushrooms that bear gills beneath a cap, puffball fungi produce spores within a closed spherical fruiting body. Upon maturity, the internal tissue transforms into a powdery spore mass that is dispersed by wind, rain or physical disturbance, aiding long-distance distribution.

Researchers noted that puffball fungi play an important ecological role as decomposers by breaking down plant residues and contributing to nutrient recycling, carbon cycling and soil organic matter formation. Several puffball species are also known for their nutritional value and the presence of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

At the same time, experts cautioned against consuming wild mushrooms without proper identification, as certain poisonous species can resemble edible puffballs during their early stages of development.

The observation underscores the need for systematic surveys, herbarium documentation, microscopic studies and DNA barcoding of wild macrofungi in the Eastern Himalayan region to better understand their ecological significance and explore their agricultural, nutritional, medicinal and biotechnological potential.

The field documentation was carried out with the active participation of ICAR-KVK Longding SMS (Horticulture) Vikas and SMS (L&WM Engineering) Dr Amit Kumar.