An annotated catalogue of the lichenicolous fungi of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, India with new records and identification key

Abstract

This article enumerates 72 species of lichenicolous fungi belonging to 21 families and 43 genera from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The study is based on published literature and specimens recently collected from some localities of Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, Jammu and Kashmir. Four species viz., Bachmanniomyces santessonii Etayo, Intralichen lichenum (Diederich) D. Hawksw., and M.S. Cole, Milospium graphideorum (Nyl.) D. Hawksw., and Roselliniella oxyspora Matzer and Hafellner are reported as new to India, while Milospium and Roselliniella are new generic records. Brief descriptions of the newly recorded species are presented. The geographical distribution, host lichens, and key to all the species of lichenicolous fungi presently known from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are also provided.

Keywords

• Biodiversity
• Lichen parasites
• Taxonomy
• Western Himalaya