A few wood decaying fungi of Gautala wildlife sanctuary, Maharashtra, India

Wood decaying fungi are often seen during rainy season in the forest area of Gautala wildlife sanctuary. Since wood decomposition is a decisive process in nutrient recycling, soil formation and the carbon budget of forest ecosystems, it is receiving increasing attention from forest ecologists, pathologists and managers. After few showers from July 2014 to September 2014, studies were carried on some wood decaying macro fungi belonging to Basidiomycotina in the forest area of Gautala wildlife sanctuary. Commonly available macrofungi included 'honey' or 'foot lace' fungus which forms basidiocarps in clusters on the roots of trees Armillaria, the ear fungus Auricularia, cylindrical or club shaped Clavaria, jelly-like or waxy, often bright-yellow or orange, smooth or wrinkled basidiocarps growing on dead wood Dacrymyces, Ganoderma, The white or pigmented large fruit body fungi familiar in most of the world Pleurotus, fruiting body bracket-like or shelf like which are annual and produce spores only one season causing wood decay in several forest trees Polypores, leathery, corky, or woody fungus Stereum, Saprobic on tree trunks or decaying logs Tremella and well known as paddy straw mushroom for its commercial production for food in the countries such as Philippines and Southeast Asia Volvariella.