Myco-ecological studies of natural morel bearing sites in Shivalik Hills of Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Seven natural morel-bearing sites were investigated during fruiting season of Morchella for their physico-chemical and soil microflora to determine conditions required for morel fructification. Sandy loam soils with humus and high aeration supported the morel fruiting. Soil temperature between 18-22.7C, air temperature 23-27C at low elevations and 18-27C at high elevations, pH slightly acidic to neutral (6.5 to 7.0) and high electrical conductivity (44.4 to 176.3 S) were recorded during natural occurrence of morel fruiting. Elemental analysis of soil revealed high carbon, nitrogen, calcium, nitrates, sodium and lead and low phosphates, chlorides and potassium below fruit body in comparison to soil away from the fruiting body. Hyphomyces ocraseus, Phoma sp., Blastomyces, Acrimoniella, Gliomastix and Cladosporium were invariably found associated with rhizosphere of Morchella. Four bacterial species, namely, Micrococcus luteus, Micrococcus varians, Bacillus sphaericus and Pseudomonas sp., were also isolated from almost all the natural morel bearing sites. These myco-ecological conditions of natural morel bearing sites are of significance in controlled domestication trials.