PhD thesis is devoted to the study of species diversity, taxonomic and ecological peculiarities of fungi of the orders Agaricales, Boletales and Russulales in the Psel River basin within the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe.
According to the literature and the results of our own research of fungi of Agaricales, Boletales and Russulales orders, 356 species of these fungi, belonging to 109 genera from 34 families, are currently known for the territory of the Psel River basin. Among identified species, 224 (62.9%) are new to the explored territory. 60 species (16.9%) are new for the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe and 41 (11.5%) species are new for the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Agaricus iodosmus is a new species for Ukraine.
Analysis of the distribution of fungi species of the orders Agaricales, Boletales and Russulales by trophic groups shows that saprotrophs predominate as a whole (232 species; 63.2%). 127 species (34.6%) of mycosymbiotrophs are recorded. They form mycorrhiza with the roots of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, create a specialized ecological group, whose representatives are energy dependent on the symbiont. Among saprotrophs the first place is occupied by humus saprotrophs (110 species), the second – xylotrophs (81 species), the third – litter saprotrophs (28 species). The rest are representatives of other trophic groups (carbotrophs, coprotrophs, parasites, saprotrophs on the remains of herbaceous plants on the bark of woody plants), which play a minor role in the mycoflora of the studied area.
During the research of the territory of the Psel River basin, some regularities of the distribution of fungi of the orders Agaricales, Boletales and Russulales by the main types of plant communities are determined. The distribution of species diversity of fungi species by plant communities shows that the largest number of species are recorded in natural and artificial forest communities: monocultural (oak, birch, willow, alder, poplar) and multicultural (maple-linden-oak) forests – 244 species (45.7%). 103 species (19.3%) are found in pine forests, and 74 species (13.8%) – in mixed forests (pine-oak, pine-birch). Species diversity of fungi in steppe, meadow-steppe and synanthropic ecotopes is much lower.
Fruiting of fungi of the Psel River basin lasts from May to the end of November. In their development, three periods can be distinguished – spring-early summer, summer and autumn. Most species appear in the fall. They massively are fruiting from late August to November.
Studies in the Psel River basin revealed new localities of rare species of fungi of the orders Agaricales, Boletales Russulales. Agaricus bresadolanus (A. romagnesii), A. tabularis and Leucoagaricus nympharum, are listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine among them. In the Psel river basin, we have found Agaricus cupreobrunneus, Calvatia gigantea, Macrolepiota gracilenta, M. konradii, M. mastoidea, Gyroporus castaneus, which are regionally rare species.
The Gadyatsky regional landscape park is characterized by a considerable species richness of fungi of the orders Agaricales, Boletales and Russulales (150 species, belonging to 24 families of 61 genera), but also big a significant representation of rare species. This allows us to assert that the park is unique for the territory of research and the Left Bank Forest-Steppe in terms of diversity and originality of mycobiota.
In terms of edibility, fungi of the orders Agaricales, Boletales and Russulales of the Psel River basin are divided as follows: 178 species are edible, 26 are conditionally edible, 104 are inedible, 43 are poisonous and 5 are with indeterminate nutritional value.
