First record on fungi of Boletaceae family in the Central Highlands of Vietnam

Boletaceae fungi, whose hyphae grow and form large fruit bodies, play an essential role in tropical ecosystems to form mycorrhizal organizations with plants from the Dipterocarpaceae, Fabaceae, and Dipterocarpaceae, Fagaceae, Pinaceae… families. They have access to forms of nutrients that plants cannot use directly and sources of nutrients separate from plant roots. Therefore, the host plants better absorb nutrients from the outside (especially in a poor environment) by binding to the mycelium and providing the mycelium with the necessary food for their photosynthesis process. In addition, symbiotic fungi on plants also increase resistance to adverse environmental influences and participate in the decomposition of organic matters. For humans, many species can be used for food, while many others contain biologically active substances applied in medicine. Southeast Asia is the center of biodiversity for fungi of Boletaceae family.

In Vietnam, the Central Highlands is home to a large area of natural forests, rich and diverse flora and fauna, and natural and climatic conditions suitable for the growth and development of Boletaceae fungi. However, the study of large fungi in general and the Boletaceae family in particular is currently being left open. According to statistics of studies works related to this family in the Central Highlands so far (in addition to the research results in the doctoral thesis of Pham Thi Ha Giang, Tropical Ecology Institute), 37 Boletaceae fungus species have been recorded; however, only 3 species have been found in the Central Highlands. The rest are in fact distributed mainly in Europe and North America.

During the surveys on large fungus biodiversity of the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center from 2011 to 2019, 46 species of fungi of  Boletaceae family were recorded for the first time in the Central Highlands, including 6 species newly recorded for science: Afroboletus vietnamensis, Fistulinella olivaceoalba, Boletus candidissimus, Veloporphyrellus vulpinus, Erythrophylloporus flammans, Tylopilus subotsuensis. Of which 2 species were recorded in Chu Yang Sin National Park, Dak Lak (Boletus candidissimus and Tylopilus subotsuensis); 2 species were recorded in Bidoup - Nui Ba National Park, Lam Dong (Fistulinella olivaceoalba and Veloporphyrellus vulpinus), and 2 species were recorded in Bu Gia Map National Park, Binh Phuoc (Afroboletus vietnamensis and Erythrophylloporus flammans).

In the current context, continuing in-depth research on the Boletaceae family in particular and large fungi in general in the Central Highlands tropical forest ecosystems has theoretical and practical values. The study results not only established the list and explained the diversity and distribution of fungal species in this family for the Central Highlands, but also supplemented new data and species. This is the basis for proposing solutions and policies for the management and conservation of large fungus species of economic and environmental values.

Article and photo by Dr. Pham Thi Ha Giang/Institute of Tropical Ecology