Morphological exploration of lignicolous macrofungi: Xylaria

Xylaria is a large and first described genus of Xylariaceae, which is generally recognized as one of the most diverse and relatively well known largest family of Ascomycota. The fruiting bodies of Xylaria species were collected from Navsari, Gujarat during rainy season. All the specimens were examined for their morphological characters based on shape, size and colour of stromata followed by detailed microscopic examination of perithecia and ascospores with light microscope and were identified. From the total collection seven species were designated based on detailed macro- and micro-morphological characteristics. Among the different collected samples five were identified up to species level and two up to genus level. These were Xylaria hypoxylon, X. longipes, X. polymorpha, X. filiformis and X. carpophila. The diversity of Xylaria species in this region invokes and unveils opportunities for exploring rich source of bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, terpenoids, cytochalasins, cell-degrading enzymes, exopolysaccharides, xylaramide, xylarin xyloketals, xylaranic acids and helvonic acid which exhibited antifungal and antibacterial activities. So, exploitation of Xylaria fungi creates new opportunities to develop bio-based commercial products to combat global crop and human pathogens.