Macrofungi Diversity in a Community Forest, Tha Mai District, Chanthaburi Province, Thailand
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study aimed to survey macrofungi diversity in a community forest in Tha Mai District, Chanthaburi Province, Thailand, and to evaluate their trophic mode and edibility; the knowledge gained from this study will help to establish a macrofungi database as part of a biodiversity learning center for the community. Macrofungi sampling was performed in the area, with identification being done by morphological analysis and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. The results showed that 18 unique macrofungi samples with diverse fruiting body characteristics were examined. These could be classified into 9 groups: (i) Ascomycetes fungi, (ii) Gilled fungi, (iii) Polypores and bracket fungi, (iv) Leather-bracket fungi, (v) Jelly fungi, (vi) Earthstar fungi, (vii) Stinkhorn fungi, (viii) Coral fungi, and (ix) Bird’s nest fungi. The gilled fungi were the most common (27.78%). Subsequently, molecular identification by ITS region analysis was able to classify them into 2 phyla, 2 classes, 8 orders, 14 families, and 17 genera. The phylum Basidiomycota (83.33%) and the family Polyporaceae (22.22%) were the most predominant taxon and family, respectively, in this area. There were 6 samples (33.33%), the genus classification was reliable (95 to 98.5% similarity), but the species are yet to be confirmed. Most fungi acted as saprotrophs (94.44%) in the ecosystem of the community forest, and only 1 species (5.56%), Termitomyces sp. (KN20), functioned as a symbiotroph. There was however no pathotrophy documented in this study. Additionally, the edible macrofungi (16.67%) reported in this study include Auricularia novozealandica (KN40), Phallus lutescens (KN38), and Termitomyces sp. (KN20), with no report of any poisonous macrofungi in this area. However, the remaining macrofungi species (83.33%) have no information on edibility or toxicity.
Source: Science & Technology Asia
Institutions: Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University, Kasem Bundit University
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7220146831