First Field Record of the Pleated Inkcap Mushroom (Parasola plicatilis) from Arunachal Pradesh

A small saprophytic mushroom identified as Parasola plicatilis (Curtis) Redhead, Vilgalys & Hopple, commonly known as the Pleated Inkcap, was observed at the experimental farm of ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Longding, Arunachal Pradesh. The specimens were first noticed and collected by Dr. Tilling Tayo (ACTO, Animal Science). The field observation and photographic evidence were subsequently communicated to Dr. Deep Narayan Mishra (Subject Matter Specialist, Plant Pathology), who confirmed the identification based on characteristic morphological features, including a strongly pleated grey pileus, a slender and fragile stipe, and non-deliquescent gills.

Parasola plicatilis is a saprotrophic agaric with an extremely delicate, paper-thin pleated cap and a life span of less than 24 hours; nevertheless, it plays an important ecological role by decomposing leaf litter and organic residues through the production of extracellular enzymes, thereby enhancing nutrient mineralization, carbon turnover, and the availability of plant-essential nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Its activity contributes to the maintenance of soil organic matter dynamics, supports microbial communities, and reflects a biologically active soil system, making its presence indicative of favourable soil fertility status and healthy soil microbial functioning under moist, organic-rich conditions.

The species is non-edible and has no food or commercial value due to its delicate structure and ephemeral nature. Although P. plicatilis has been reported from various regions of India and elsewhere, there are no well-documented published records confirming its earlier occurrence in Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, the present observation is considered a first field-level record from the state based on currently accessible information.

This record underscores the rich yet underexplored fungal biodiversity of Arunachal Pradesh and emphasizes the importance of systematic as well as incidental biodiversity documentation during routine field-based observations and surveys.