Discovering Bengaluru's Hidden Fungal Treasures

In the bustling heart of India's Silicon Valley, where technology meets tradition, a groundbreaking study has unveiled the surprising richness of wild mushroom diversity thriving amid urban and rural eco-regions. Researchers from St. Joseph's University in Bengaluru have documented 131 species of wild mushrooms, shedding light on an often-overlooked aspect of the city's biodiversity. This discovery not only highlights the resilience of fungal life in human-dominated landscapes but also underscores the vital role of academic institutions in preserving natural heritage through rigorous scientific inquiry.

Bengaluru, once celebrated as the Garden City, retains pockets of greenery in its urban forests, lake environs, and peripheral rural zones despite rapid urbanization. These eco-regions serve as crucial habitats for macrofungi, the visible fruiting bodies of mushrooms that play essential roles in ecosystem health—from decomposing organic matter to forming symbiotic relationships with plants.

The Research Initiative at St. Joseph's University

Leading this exploration is a dedicated team from the Mycology and Plant Pathology Lab at St. Joseph's University, including PhD scholar Tejashwini Krishna, research scholar Bharath Kumar S, and Assistant Professor Praveen Kumar Nagadesi. Their work, published in a peer-reviewed journal, represents a culmination of systematic fieldwork spanning nearly three years.

St. Joseph's University, a prominent higher education institution in Bengaluru, fosters such research through its School of Life Sciences. This study exemplifies how university-led initiatives contribute to fungal taxonomy—the scientific classification of mushrooms—and ethnomycology, the study of human-fungus interactions. For aspiring researchers, programs like these offer hands-on training in field surveys, microscopic analysis, and biodiversity assessment, paving the way for careers in mycology.Discover research assistant jobs in botany and microbiology across India.

Methodology: A Three-Year Systematic Survey

The study employed a meticulous approach, conducting surveys from September 2022 to July 2025 across selected urban and rural eco-regions. Urban sites included city parks, lakesides, and forested patches within Bengaluru, while rural areas encompassed villages like Hirandahalli and Aduru on the outskirts.

Specimens were collected during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, when fruiting bodies emerge. Identification relied on morphological traits—cap shape, gill structure, spore prints—and microscopic features like basidia and hyphae. Diversity was quantified using Shannon’s index (measuring richness and evenness) and Simpson’s index (probability of two randomly selected species being the same). This step-by-step process ensured accurate taxonomic documentation, highlighting the scientific rigor behind fungal studies.

Key Findings: 131 Species Across Landscapes

The survey revealed 131 wild mushroom species, with 110 shared between urban and rural zones. Urban eco-regions boasted 70 species from 18 families and 37 genera, while rural areas hosted 61 from 9 families and 24 genera. Surprisingly, urban habitats showed higher diversity: Shannon’s index of 2.996 and Simpson’s of 0.950, compared to rural 2.708 and 0.936. This paradox may stem from varied microhabitats in city greenspaces, like decaying wood in parks and soil near lakes.

Among these, 37 species are edible, prized for nutrition; 11 poisonous, posing risks; 5 psychoactive with potential ceremonial uses; 5 medicinal; and 72 unknown or inedible. Notable first records include eight species new to India, five to Karnataka, and five to Bengaluru district, enriching national fungal inventories.

Urban vs. Rural Mushroom Diversity: A Comparative Table

This table illustrates the unexpected urban edge in species richness, challenging assumptions about rural superiority in biodiversity.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Edible and Medicinal Gems: Termitomyces and More

Highlighting nutritional potential, edible species like Termitomyces umkowaan (termite-associated, protein-rich), Pleurotus sajor-caju (oyster mushroom, versatile in curries), Schizophyllum commune (wood ear, immune-boosting), and Lycoperdon lahorense (puffball, used in salads) are locally valued. These fungi offer vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds, addressing food security in urban poor communities.

Medicinal ones show promise in antioxidants and antimicrobials, aligning with India's growing interest in myco-therapeutics. For health-conscious readers, wild edibles provide sustainable alternatives, though expert identification is crucial to avoid toxins.Career advice for mycology researchers.

Ethnomycological Insights from Local Communities

Complementing taxonomy, ethnomycological surveys interviewed 200 informants, revealing traditional knowledge. In Kannada, mushrooms are called 'aane anabe' or 'huththu'. Only a few like Termitomyces umkowaan and Pleurotus sajor-caju are consumed, prepared as salads or stir-fries. Toxic ones like Agaricus pediades are shunned.

• Older generations (35-80) hold richer lore, fading among youth due to urbanization.
• Psathyrellaceae family dominates (15.1%, 8 species).
• Potential bioactive uses: immunomodulatory, anti-cancer.

This bridges indigenous wisdom and science, vital for conservation.

Threats to Bengaluru's Mushroom Habitats

Rapid urbanization fragments forests, pollutes lakes, and alters microclimates, threatening fungal diversity. Climate change disrupts monsoon patterns essential for fruiting, while invasive species and overuse of pesticides exacerbate declines. Urban foraging, though beneficial, risks overharvesting if unregulated.

Studies note Bengaluru's vanishing lakes and tree loss intensify heat islands, indirectly harming fungi-dependent ecosystems.St. Joseph's University research page

Conservation Strategies and University-Led Efforts

To safeguard this diversity, experts advocate protected urban green corridors, citizen science apps for monitoring, and mycological education in curricula. Universities like St. Joseph's can lead bioremediation projects using fungi to clean pollutants.

• Promote sustainable foraging guidelines.
• Integrate mycology in biodiversity parks.
• Collaborate with NGOs for habitat restoration.

Government policies under NEP 2020 support such research, fostering interdisciplinary higher education.

Future Research Directions and Career Opportunities

Upcoming studies may explore genomics for new species and climate resilience. With India's fungal wealth, mycology offers booming prospects in pharma, agriculture, and biotech.

Prospective students can pursue MSc/PhD in Botany at institutions like St. Joseph's. Job seekers, check higher-ed research jobs or Bengaluru university jobs.

Photo by Joydeep Sensarma on Unsplash

Implications for Nutrition, Economy, and Sustainability

These findings position wild mushrooms as sustainable superfoods, boosting local economies via eco-tourism and cultivation. In a nation facing malnutrition, they provide affordable protein. Academically, it inspires curricula blending ecology and nutrition.

For educators and researchers, this underscores fungi's role in urban resilience. Explore faculty positions via professor jobs.

Conclusion: A Call to Preserve Bengaluru's Fungal Legacy

This research from St. Joseph's University illuminates Bengaluru's wild mushroom diversity, urging action against habitat loss. By valuing these eco-regions, we safeguard biodiversity for future generations. Interested in academia? Visit Rate My Professor, higher-ed jobs, career advice, university jobs, or post a job.