Diversity, Distribution and Ecological Role of Saprophytic Fungi Across Different Habitats of the Khandesh Region, Maharashtra, India
Keywords:
Saprophytic fungi, fungal diversity, Khandesh, Maharashtra, decomposition, soil fungi, ecological sustainability, nutrient cycling, biodiversity, leaf litterAbstract
Saprophytic fungi are an important component of terrestrial ecosystems because they decompose dead organic matter and contribute substantially to nutrient cycling, soil formation and maintenance of ecosystem productivity. The present study was designed to assess the diversity, distribution and ecological significance of saprophytic fungi occurring in different habitats of the Khandesh region of Maharashtra, India. The study covered three districts of Khandesh, namely Jalgaon, Dhule and Nandurbar, and included agricultural soils, forest and semi-natural habitats, grasslands, and leaf-litter and decomposing woody-material habitats. A total of 48 sampling sites were considered, with 16 sites in each district and four sites representing each habitat category within each district. Soil, leaf litter and decomposing plant material were examined using culture-based techniques, while representative fungal isolates were characterized using colony morphology and microscopic features. The illustrative dataset used in this manuscript recorded 1,445 fungal isolates representing 45 taxa at the regional level. Nandurbar showed the highest district-level richness and diversity, whereas Dhule showed comparatively lower values. Among habitat types, forest and semi-natural habitats supported the highest fungal richness and Shannon diversity, followed by leaf-litter habitats, grasslands and agricultural soils. Fungal abundance was highest during the monsoon season and declined during winter and summer. Organic carbon, soil moisture and litter depth showed positive associations with fungal richness and Shannon diversity, whereas agricultural intensity showed a negative association. Genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma, Rhizopus, Mucor and Chaetomium represented important components of the recorded fungal community. The study emphasizes the ecological importance of saprophytic fungi in decomposition, nutrient cycling, soil fertility and potential industrial enzyme production. The results also indicate the need for systematic fungal inventories and molecular identification approaches in the Khandesh region.
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