Gafforov Yusufjon, Yarasheva Manzura, Wang Xue-Wei, Rašeta Milena, Rakhimova Yelena, Kyzmetova Lyazzat, Bavlankulova Kanaim, Rapior Sylvie, Chen Jia-Jia, Langer Ewald, Munnavarov Burkhon, Aslonov Zafar, Bakokhoja Bobozoda, Zhou Li-Wei
Central Asian Center of Development Studies, New Uzbekistan University, Tashkent 100007, Uzbekistan.
Mycology Laboratory, Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent 100125, Uzbekistan.
J Fungi (Basel). 2025 Jan 5;11(1):37. doi: 10.3390/jof11010037.
Central Asia, located at the heart of Eurasia, is renowned for its varied climate and vertical vegetative distribution, which support diverse biomes and position it as a global biodiversity hotspot. Despite this ecological richness, Central Asia's fungal diversity, particularly wood-inhabiting macrofungi, remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the diversity, ecological roles, and potential distribution of poroid Hymenochaetoid fungi in the region. By conducting field surveys, collecting basidiomes, and reviewing the literature and herbarium records from five Central Asian countries, we compiled a comprehensive checklist of these fungi. In total, 43 Hymenochaetoid species belonging to 18 genera were identified, with , , and being the most species-rich. Notably, and were found to be the most widespread species. These macrofungi play essential ecological roles as saprotrophs and pathogens of various identified host plant families, aiding in lignin degradation and exhibiting diverse enzymatic activities. For the first time, we modelled the potential distribution patterns of Hymenochaetoid fungi in Central Asia, revealing that their distribution is strongly influenced by host plant availability and temperature-related factors. The three most critical variables were host plant density, annual temperature range (Bio7), and mean temperature of the warmest quarter (Bio10). The distribution of suitable habitats is uneven, with highly suitable areas (4.52%) concentrated in the mountainous border regions between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. These results underscore the significance of specific environmental conditions for the growth and survival of Hymenochaetoid fungi in this region. Our findings highlight the urgent need for continued mycological and host plant research and expanded conservation initiatives to document and preserve macrofungal and botanical biodiversity in this under-explored area. In light of climate change, the collected mycological and botanical data provide a valuable reference for promoting forest health management globally.
中亚位于欧亚大陆的中心，以其多样的气候和垂直植被分布而闻名，这些条件支撑着多样的生物群落，使其成为全球生物多样性热点地区。尽管生态丰富，但中亚的真菌多样性，尤其是木生大型真菌，在很大程度上仍未得到充分探索。本研究调查了该地区多孔状层孔菌目真菌的多样性、生态作用和潜在分布。通过进行实地调查、采集担子果，并查阅来自五个中亚国家的文献和标本馆记录，我们编制了这些真菌的综合清单。总共鉴定出属于18个属的43种层孔菌目真菌，其中[属名1]、[属名2]和[属名3]的物种最为丰富。值得注意的是，[物种名1]和[物种名2]被发现是分布最广泛的物种。这些大型真菌作为各种已确定寄主植物科的腐生菌和病原体发挥着重要的生态作用，有助于木质素降解并表现出多样的酶活性。我们首次模拟了中亚层孔菌目真菌的潜在分布模式，结果表明它们的分布受到寄主植物可利用性和温度相关因素的强烈影响。三个最关键的变量是寄主植物密度、年温度范围（生物变量7）和最暖季度的平均温度（生物变量10）。适宜栖息地的分布不均衡，高度适宜的区域（4.52%）集中在哈萨克斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦、塔吉克斯坦和乌兹别克斯坦之间的山区边境地区。这些结果强调了特定环境条件对该地区层孔菌目真菌生长和生存的重要性。我们的研究结果突出了持续开展真菌学和寄主植物研究以及扩大保护举措的迫切需求，以便记录和保护这个未充分探索地区的大型真菌和植物生物多样性。鉴于气候变化，所收集的真菌学和植物学数据为促进全球森林健康管理提供了宝贵的参考。
