Mushroom diversity in Shaki district of Azerbaijan

Mushroom diversity in Shaki district of Azerbaijan was studied during 2013-2018. Totally 346 specimens were collected and identified based on the morphologically main diagnostic features. Phenotypic characters, as well as microscopic features (size, shape, color of spores) were considered. In total 111 taxa (106 species, three forms and two variations) belonging to 67 genera, 32 families and 11 orders of Ascomycota and Basidiomycta were identified in view of the latest taxonomic and nomenclature changes. Two taxa Morchella esculenta var. rotunda and Suillus luteus f. albus represent new records for Azerbaijan. Ecological groups of mushrooms were reflected. Amanita fulva, A. pantherina, A. vaginata, Apioperdon pyriforme, Boletus edulis, B. reticulatus, Bovista plumbea, Caloboletus radicans, Cantharellus cibarius, C. subalbidus, Chlorophyllum rhacodes, Coprinopsis atramentaria, Hymenopellis radicata, Hypholoma fasciculare, Lactarius piperatus, Leccinum scabrum, Lepiota cristata, Lycoperdon umbrinum, Morchella esculenta, Mycena crocata, M. pura, Russula foetens, R. rosacea, Sarcoscypha coccinea, Suillus granulatus, S. luteus, Suillellus luridus and Tricholoma ustale were frequently found in the district. The rare species found in the studied area were Butyriboletus regius, Cortinarius triumphans, Clavariadelphus pistillaris, Crepidotus cesatii, Lactarius deliciosus, Morchella crassipes, Otidea onotica, Suillellus queletii and Tuber aestivum. Species variation was observed to increase along the elevation gradient, starting from the low mountain zone. Abundance of species decreases in the middle-upper mountain zone. Species distribution patterns along the elevation gradients are affected by mountain range peculiarities and climate warming. Numerous species have been recorded in more than one altitude. Use possibility of fungi is also elucidated.


INTRODUCTION
Information of the first mushroom records (Polyporus officinalis (Vill.) Fr., Tuber album Bull., Tuber melanosporum Vittad., Morchella esculenta (L.) Pers.) in Azerbaijan was mentioned in the medieval manuscripts [Alakbarli, 2006]. Based on available literature the first fungal collections were made by foreign botanists and mycologists who visited Azerbaijan [Georgi, 1800;Kolenati 1858;Voronov 1922Voronov -1923. But the recorded and reported information on mushrooms is scanty, only few published works about fungi reached us [Aghayeva, 2018]. Significant contribution towards studying mushrooms belongs to A. Sadiqov, who launched first investigations on diversity since 60s of the last century. In the result of this effort a wide range of mushrooms were investigated in the country [Opred…, 1985;Sadiqov, 1968Sadiqov, , 1972Sadiqov, , 2007Sadiqov, Aghayeva, 2016]. Currently, about 2300 specimens of more than 800 mushroom taxa, much of which were collected by him, are stored in the Herbarium of the Institute of Botany (BAK) of ANAS [Aghayeva, 2018]. The study of fungi of various regions is also carried out continuously in order to identify species diversity, as well as rare and endangered species of fungi of the country [Ağayeva, Sadıqov, 2009, 2014Qənbərov və s., 2012;Sadiqov, 1968].
The Greater Caucasus is among the botanically most diverse regions worldwide. Shaki district is one of the largest regions of northwestern Azerbaijan, which is located along the southern Caucasus mountain range. The area is rich in coniferous and mixed deciduous forests, and dominated by oak, beech, birch and hornbeam. The territory of the district can be divided into several climatic zones. Soils and climate are favorable for the growth of wide range of mushrooms. Plant diversity of the area is well studied, taking into account the number of herbarium samples kept in the BAK, but information on mushroom diversity is insufficient.
Thus, the aim of present study was to investigate the diversity of mushrooms in Shaki district, determine the systematic composition considering the latest taxonomic and nomenclatural changes, reveal ecological groups and distribution of mushrooms along elevation gradients, detect rare and endangered species in the country and identify the possibility of their use. Phenological features were examined by magnifying lens and micromorphological features were observed by the microscope (Vert. A1, Carl Zeiss, Axion Imager, Göttingen, Germany). Microscopic structures were mounted in the sterile water, statistics included of minimum 20 measurements. Both the size and shape of basidiospores were considered. The results are estimated as the average of measurements of each structure for each sample. Identification was carried out based on the available literature [Arora, 1986;Boddy et al., 2013;Bondartseva, 1998;Dermek, Pilát, 1969;Dudka, Wasser, 1987;Hills, 2009;Horak, 2005;Klofac, 2013;Ladurne, 2003;Moser, 1967Moser, , 1986Muñoz, 2005;Opred…, 1985;Richard et al., 2015;Šutara, 2008;Wasser, 1980;Zerova et al., 1979]. Nomenclature updates and taxonomic arrangements were presented as in Index Fungorum Partnership and MycoBank Database.
Some species such as Helvella acetabulum, H. atra were included to the edibility not known group.

CONCLUSION
Mushrooms are non-wood forest-product in forest ecosystem, data on their diversity and productivity is highly valuable. Fungi have significant effects on ecosystem processes and they are one of the main indicators of ecological disturbances. They are very sensitive to climate change that induces their fruiting, which could be also used as reliable indicator for monitoring the early climate change impacts [Alday et al., 2017;Boddy et al., 2013]. Nowadays fungal diversity' studies keep its importance. One of the challenges of mycological studies in the country is to continue search for fungal diversity in different ecosystems, establish rare and endangered species for the country; renew the list of identified edible, non-edible and poisonous species. Special interest is directed to the identification and use possibilities of mushrooms.
In this study the diversity of fungi of Shaki district was revealed. Fungal distribution along elevation zones was not significant and showed that most of fungi distributed in more than one altitude, but significant seasonal variation was observed and number of mushrooms in the summer season was obviously high. Fruiting season of some species is extended such as Lactarius deliciosus and Suillus granulatus. The most successful group among ecological ones was symbiotrophs, due to their role in nutrient circulation in mixed forests. Created datasets for Shaki district will help to effectively characterize spatial and temporal variability of mushrooms in the country.