Rare yellow puffball mushroom found in Arunachal

Scientists in Arunachal Pradesh’s Longding district documented a rare yellow puffball mushroom, possibly Bovista colorata. The discovery highlights the region’s rich biodiversity, though further microscopic and molecular studies are needed for confirmation and taxonomic classification 

Itanagar: A rare yellow puffball mushroom, believed to be species Bovista colorata, has been documented in Arunachal Pradesh’s Longding district by a team from the ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK).

The specimen was recorded by a team from KVK Longding during a field visit to Zedua village on June 4, officials said on Monday.

Based on its distinctive yellow globose fruiting body and puffball-like morphology, the mushroom was provisionally identified by Dr Deep Narayan Mishra, subject matter specialist (Plant Pathology) at KVK Longding.

However, scientists have stressed that detailed microscopic examination and molecular characterisation will be required for definitive taxonomic confirmation.

According to preliminary assessments, documented records of Bovista colorata from Longding district are currently lacking. If confirmed, the finding would add a significant entry to the macro-fungal diversity of Arunachal Pradesh, a state renowned for its exceptional biological wealth and located within the globally significant Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot.

Unlike conventional mushrooms that bear gills beneath a cap, puffball fungi produce millions of microscopic spores inside a closed spherical fruiting body, officials said.

As they mature, the internal tissue transforms into a powdery spore mass that is dispersed by wind, rainfall or physical disturbance, enabling the species to spread across large areas.

Scientists observed that puffball fungi play an important ecological role as decomposers, breaking down dead plant material and contributing to nutrient recycling, carbon cycling and soil organic matter formation.

Several puffball species are also known to contain proteins, dietary fibre, essential amino acids, minerals and antioxidant compounds, while studies have indicated the presence of bioactive metabolites with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and potential pharmaceutical properties.

Reacting to the development, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said Arunachal Pradesh continues to be a treasure trove of biodiversity.

In a social media post, he said the documentation of the rare yellow puffball mushroom by the ICAR-KVK Longding team underscores the state’s remarkable ecological wealth and the importance of scientific exploration in uncovering nature’s hidden wonders.

He said such discoveries deepen understanding of local ecosystems and reinforce the collective commitment towards conservation, research and sustainable stewardship of Arunachal Pradesh’s natural heritage.