Prof. Yash Pal Sharma delivers lead lecture at International Botanical Symposium, unveils novel mushroom species from Ladakh’s trans-Himalayan Region

JAMMU: Prof Yash Pal Sharma, Dean faculty of Life Sciences delivered a lead lecture in the XLVIII All India Botanical Conference of The Indian Botanical Society & International Symposium on Biology and Biotechnology of Plant Diversity for Bioeconomy organized by the Department of Botany and School of Life Sciences North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong.

Delivering his talk titled “Wild Edible Mushrooms of Cold Desert Ecosystems: Diversity, Chemo-Profiling, and Ethnomycological Insights from Kargil, Trans-Himalayan Region of Ladakh,” Prof. Sharma captivated the audience with his account of groundbreaking discoveries from the high-altitude cold deserts of Kargil. He spoke about the identification of several novel edible mushroom species thriving in one of the harshest environments on Earth. “These mushrooms not only survive but truly flourish amid the extreme cold and aridity of the Trans-Himalayan landscape,” Prof. Sharma remarked.

The research, he explained, revealed that Ladakh’s rugged terrain supports an astonishing diversity of wild mushrooms, many of which form a distinctive fungal community specially adapted to the cold desert ecosystem. Among the notable discoveries are two new species, Pleurotus shentelli and Lactarius drassinus, both unique to the region and of economic significance to local inhabitants.

These have been thoroughly characterized through morphological, taxonomic, and molecular analyses, confirming their novelty. Chemical profiling of these species showed high levels of stress-related sugars and unsaturated fatty acids, compounds known to help organisms maintain cellular balance under extreme conditions. In his concluding remarks, the learned mycologist from Jammu & Kashmir emphasized that these findings not only highlight the adaptive genius of wild mushrooms in extreme climates, but also open exciting new avenues for exploring their culinary and medicinal potential

Organized under the aegis of the Indian Botanical Society (IBS), the international symposium brought together an impressive array of research scientists and academicians from across the globe. Eminent speakers from Japan, Germany, Israel, Poland, and Australia shared their cutting-edge insights, while distinguished Indian luminaries including Padma Shri Prof. Sudhir Sopory, Padma Shri Prof. Pramod Tandon, Padma Shri Prof. Veena Tandon, and Padma Shri Dr. Eklabya Sharma graced the occasion with their presence and expertise.

The event, attended by over 250 delegates, served as a vibrant platform for scientific exchange, collaboration, and the celebration of recent advances in botanical research. The mega event was held under the presidentship of Prof. S. K. Barik, former Director of the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), while the plenary sessions were coordinated by Prof. Seshu Lavania, Secretary of the IBS. The symposium concluded on a note of optimism and renewed commitment toward advancing botanical sciences and fostering global research partnerships.