Morphological diversity of Ganoderma species and its host trees in Mezam Division, Northwest Region, Cameroon

Abstract

Ganoderma P. Karst. is a pathogen that causes root and stem rot in trees, ultimately leading to their death. It can be used to treat various conditions of human diseases. This fungal species often grows on economically significant trees. Its morphological' diversity and host range need to be better understood due to their similarity in morphological resemblance. This research aims to identify the phenotypic diversity of Ganoderma species and their host trees. Opportunistic sampling was used to collect samples from nine villages in Mezam Division, Northwest Region of Cameroon. Morphological identification of Ganoderma species was done based on morphological characters such as colour, length, and width, laccate or non-laccate, the type of basidiocarp, margin shape, microscopical structures, and hyphae. The morphological characters of basidiocarps collected from different host trees revealed eleven distinct Ganoderma species, including Ganoderma applanatum, G. australe, G. brownii, G. cupreum, G. gibbosum, G. lucidum, G. multipileum, G. multiplicatum, G. orbiforme, G. resinaceum and G. weberianum. This study identified nine host tree species. Ganoderma resinaceum was host specific to Elaeis guineensis. G. cupreum on Ficus sp., and Persea americana, and G. orbiforme on Cola acuminata. G. multiplicatum, G. lucidum, G. gibbosum, and G. applanatum had multiple hosts. Ganoderma typically grows on dead tree stumps based on host preferences. However, three species were collected from living trees; one on Albizia adianthifolia and two on Persea americana, confirming their nature as saprophytes and plant pathogens.