Finding Spalting Fungi in the Peruvian Tropical Premontane Cloud Forest on Peruvian Native Wood Species

Tropical montane and premontane forests are diverse, including fungi. However, little is known about spalting fungi (decay fungi that change the color of wood) in tropical regions despite the economic importance they could bring by enhancing wood esthetics. To increase the knowledge of the diversity of spalting fungi, a sampling of fallen logs, branches (exposing xylem to identify potential pigmenting and zone line-producing fungi), and fruiting bodies (on wood) was conducted in the premontane moist forest in the district of San Ramon, Junín, Peru. The fungi were collected, cultured, isolated, and sequenced. Also, the identified species were used in a novel test to confirm they were producing spalting on Guazuma crinita. The species found belong to the Ascomycota orders Xylariales and Diaporthales and the Basidiomycota orders Agaricales, Polyporales, and Russulales. The fungi collected produced bleaching, different colors of zone lines, and pigmentation in laboratory conditions. The results increase the database of spalted fungi in Peru, and the test used in this research could be the basis for a quick test to identify spalting fungi.