Plant Disease Research

Russulaceae family of fungi in the order Russulales is dominated by well-known genera. The genus Russula, sometimes known as brittlegills, comprises around 750 species is a large genus of mycorrhizal fungi. Host of the Russula grows in temperate regions of the world. Four species of the genus Russula were collected identified and are being described for the first time from India to exist in Lahaul valley of Himachal Pradesh. These species are R. atropurpurea (Fr.ex Fr.) Fr, Russula vesca, (Fr.ex Fr.) Fr., Russula xerampelina (Schaeff. ex Secr.), Russula mairei Sing. Among the studied species of genus Russula, R. atropurpurea (Fr.ex Fr.) Fr. with pileus: 5–12 cm broad, dark purple red with central part blackish, hemispherical, slightly depressed, cuticle detachable at edge, slightly viscid, shiny with tendency to discolor with spore white, ovoid, reticulate, 3–6 X 3–6 um, globose to subglobose, hyaline having basidia 13–43 X 3–6 um. Russula vesca Fr. which is characterized by 6–10 cm broad pileus, pale flesh-pink to wine-brown, tinged with ochre, expanded, depressed at center, cuticle very detachable, with fine redial venations especially at center, margin obtuse. Stipe 3–6 X 1.5–2.0 cm white tending to turn yellowish, brownish at base, spongy, slightly flared beneath gills, narrowing at base, soft. Flesh white, thick. Spore: white, subglobose, 6–9 X 6–9 um, warty. Basidia 59 X 3–6 um. Russula xerampelina (Schaeff. ex Secr.) Fr. having pileus 4.5 cm, convex, expanded brownish-purple to reddish-brown, smooth, fleshy, margin smooth and pinkish. Spores: 9–9 X 6–6 um, globose to subglobose, hyaline spinulate. Basidia: 16–36 X 9 um, clavate. Russula mairei Sing. is characterized by 2–7 cm broad convex pileus with stipe length ranging from 2.5 - 7.5 cm long. Spore print creamy yellow and spores 7 -10 µm.