Macrofungi of Imbak Canyon – Batu Timbang Area, Sabah

Abstract

Macrofungi survey was carried out from 21^st to 26^th of August, 2017 during the Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA) Scientific Expedition at Batu Timbang Area, Imbak Canyon, Sabah. The purpose of the study was to survey the diversity of mushroom forming-fungi or macrofungi because such study and information is poorly documented and limited in Malaysia. In this scientific expedition, we obtained a total of 106 species from 13 different families within Basidiomycota and Ascomycota. The most dominant family found was Polyporaceae with 25 species were collected, 23% of the total samples collected. We identified four different species of edible mushrooms and two deadly poisonous mushrooms. About 47% unidentified group will be subjected for DNA analysis. Apart from that, we characterized some of the polypore till genus or species level. The most interesting species from this study area were Earliella scabrosa and Panus similis that were recorded to have a medicinal properties. A glowing mushroom, Mycena illuminans is a new record for the Imbak Canyon region. Diversity of the ectomycorrhizal mushrooms which are specific to dipterocarp trees in Batu Timbang should be explored. Endemic and IUCN red listed species like Buglossoporus sp. found in the study area should be preserved for DNA. Future studies are needed in order to conserve the hidden knowledge of undescribed groups of mushroom from this region.