Characterization and identification of Russula firmula and Russula postiana from Himalayan moist temperate forests of Kashmir

Two ectomycorrhizal species of genus Russula: Russula postiana and Russula firmula (Basidiomycota, Agaricales) have been characterized and identified from Kashmir Himalaya using morpho-anatomical and molecular methods targeting its rDNA. The target internal transcribe spacer (ITS)-rDNA of both species was amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with universal fungal primers (ITS1 and ITS4), which generated 700 bp fragments. After sequencing of amplified product, the initial blast analysis revealed and confirmed the identification of both species by comparing the sequences of these respective species present in GenBank. Further, in phylogenetic analysis both species distinctly clustered with their respective groups. Morphological characteristics like shape, size and colour of pileus, stipe and gills, basidiospore size of both the species was measured and compared with data given in literature.