First report of subterranean development of an agaric fungus in Iran

Abstract

In the framework of collection and identification of fungi of Zagros mountains (W and SW Iran), specimens of agaric fungi with subterraneandevelopment were collected from oak forests in Chaharmahal-va-Bakhtiari province. Native people of Dopolan and Rahimabad used hypogeous fruit-bodies of fungus as edible fungi. Excavation was done and fungal samples were found at 15–30 cm soil depth, near Oak roots. Because underground development and formation of basidiocarps, shape of pilei was abnormal.