Parasynnemellisia khasiana

Parasynnemellisia khasiana Latest News

A previously unknown fungus named Parasynnemellisia khasiana has been discovered in the bamboo forests around Mawsynram, adding a new species — and even a new genus — to the scientific record from Meghalaya.

About Parasynnemellisia khasiana

• It is a new species of fungus.
• It was discovered in the bamboo forests around Mawsynram, Meghalaya.
• It is named after the Khasi Hills.
• The fungus was found on dead stems of a thorny bamboo species (Chimonocalamus griffithianus) while surveying bamboo litter in the Mawsynram area.
• Laboratory analysis confirmed that the organism did not belong to any existing fungal genus. 
• As a result, the researchers established a new genus, Parasynnemellisia, with P. khasiana as its first described species.
• It forms a distinct evolutionary lineage within the fungal family Phaeosphaeriaceae, separating it from superficially similar bamboo-associated fungi found elsewhere in Asia.

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What are Fungi?

• A fungus (plural: fungi) is a type of eukaryotic organism belonging to the kingdom Fungi, alongside plants, animals, protozoa, and monera.
• As eukaryotes, their cells contain a nucleus, mitochondria, and a complex system of internal membrane, including the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus.
• All fungi possess cell walls made of a tough polysaccharide called chitin; the cell wall provides structural strength to the fungal body. 
• Fungi are incredibly diverse, with commonly encountered forms including yeast, molds, truffles, and mushrooms.
• Fungi come in both unicellular and multicellular forms, with yeast representing the simplest unicellular type and molds like Rhizopus, Mucor, and Penicillium are examples of multicellular fungi.
• They’re the most populous kingdom on the planet – an estimated 3.8 million fungi exist worldwide – and yet, more than 90% of them are currently unknown to science.
• They are found in just about any habitat, but most live on the land, mainly in soil or plant material rather than sea or fresh water.  
• They are more closely related to animals than to plants, as they do not photosynthesise. 
• Different species of fungi can be mutualistic, parasitic, or serve as decomposers.
• Most of the fungi are saprobes (live on dead organisms). They are important decomposers and recyclers of nutrients within the environment.

Source: HUB