Digital Chromotyping of Pileus, Hymenium and the Spore Print of Termitomyces manmiformis, Goa, India

Digital chromotyping is a quantitative image-based methodology for characterising the chromatic identity of fungal structures through multi-colour-space analysis of standardised digital photographs. The pileus (cap surface), hymenium (gill lamellae), and basidiospore mass (spore print) of Termitomyces manmiformis Heim — a wild edible termitophilous macrofungus from Canacona, Goa, India — were subjected to systematic digital colour analysis. Specimens were collected on 17 July 2025. Spore prints were collected on 100-micron thick Garware Polyester sheets and air-dried before photography. A vertical cross-section of the deposited spore print showing uniform basidiospore deposition was selected for colour analysis. Images were captured with a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra under natural light. Pixel colour data were generated using Image Colour Summarizer Version SDK33, 2024 and processed for multi-colour-space analysis across RGB, CIELAB, HSL, CMYK, XYZ, and RYB models. A total of 71 discrete named colours spanning 14 spectral groups were resolved across the three structures. The pileus showed the highest chromatic complexity (Shannon H' = 2.85; 37 named colours; 11 spectral groups), dominated by Orange-Brown tones consistent with melanin-carotenoid cuticle pigmentation. The hymenium presented a paler, near-achromatic profile (Chroma C* = 6.16; dominant colour: Ash Grey). The spore print was the most homogeneous structure (H' = 1.51; 4 spectral groups), characterised by an ochre-buff signal (L* = 66.46, b* = +24.22, C* = 24.40). Cross-structure delta-E* (CIE76) analysis showed the greatest perceptual difference between gills and spore print (delta-E* = 18.50), while pileus and spore print shared the closest chromatic centroid (delta-E* = 9.07). This study presents the first quantified digital chromotype for T. manmiformis. The author has documented approximately 35 Termitomyces taxa from Goa since 1986. A global checklist of 93 valid Termitomyces taxa accepted in MycoBank is provided.