MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND ECOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION OF PERICONIA SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH DECAYING PLANT MATERIALS IN MAHADEVPUR FOREST, TELANGANA, INDIA

Dematiaceous hyphomycetes are melanized saprobic fungi that play an important role in the decomposition of plant litter and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. This study assessed the diversity and morphological characteristics of Periconia species associated with decaying plant materials in Mahadevpur Forest, Telangana, India. Fungal specimens were collected from dead leaves, stems, twigs, bark, and woody debris, and identified using standard morphological characters and published taxonomic keys. Five species, Periconia byssoides, P. hispidula, P. pseudolateralis, P. minutissima, and P. ramostipitata, were recorded. The investigation revealed a diverse assemblage of dematiaceous hyphomycetes inhabiting different lignocellulosic substrates, with leaf litter and dead stems supporting the highest fungal diversity. Representative taxa included Periconia byssoides, P. hispidula, P. pseudolateralis, P. minutissima, and P. ramostipitata, which exhibited distinct morphological characteristics useful for taxonomic identification. Variations in colony morphology, conidiophore architecture, conidial dimensions, and surface ornamentation facilitated species differentiation and reflected adaptation to diverse ecological niches. The predominance of these fungi on decomposing plant materials highlights their important role in litter decomposition and nutrient recycling within tropical forest ecosystems.