Wild mushroom diversity in eco-regions of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Mushroom biodiversity encompasses the diversity of macroscopic fungi within Eumycota. A systematic survey conducted from September 2022 to July 2025 documented 131 wild mushroom species across urban (70) and rural (61) eco-regions of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Among these, 110 species were identified across both landscapes. Urban areas hosted 18 families and 37 genera, while rural zones were inhabited by nine families and 24 genera. Diversity indices indicated higher richness and evenness in urban habitats (Shannon’s index: 2.996; Simpson’s index: 0.950) compared to rural areas (2.708 and 0.936, respectively). Among these species, 37 were edible, 11 poisonous, five psychoactive, five medicinal, and 72 unknown or not edible. Locally important edible species such as Termitomyces umkowaan, Pleurotus sajor-caju, Schizophyllum commune, and Lycoperdon lahorense highlight their ethnomycological and nutritional value. Notably, eight species were reported for the first time in India, five in Karnataka, and five in Bengaluru district, underscoring the novelty of this work.