Background: Wild edible mushrooms (WEM) are economically significant and used in traditional medicines worldwide. The region of Jammu and Kashmir (Western Himalayas) is enriched with the diversity of edible mushrooms, collected by the rural people for food and income generation. This is the first detailed study on diversity and ethno-medicinal uses of mushrooms from the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Methods: Consecutive surveys were conducted to record ethnomycological diversity and socio-economic importance of wild edible mushrooms value chain in rural areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir during 2015–2019. Ethnomycological data were collected with a semi-structured questionnaire having a set of questions on indigenous mycological knowledge and collection and retailing of wild edible mushrooms. A total of 923 informants from the study area provided the results identifying the gender, type of mushroom species, medicinal uses, and marketing of mushrooms. Diversity of mushrooms was studied by using quadrat and transect methods. Principal component analysis (PCA) and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) were also applied to the dataset to analyse the relationship between species distribution, the underlying environmental factors, and habitat types. PCA identified the major species-specific to the sites and put them close to the sites of distribution. Results: A total of 131 mushroom species were collected and identified during 2015–2019 from the study area. Ninety-seven species of mushrooms were reported new to the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The dominant mushroom family was Russulaceae with 23 species followed by Agaricaceae, 16 species. Major mushroom species identified and grouped by the PCA were Coprinus comatus, Lactarius sanguifluus, Amanita fulva, Armillaria gallica, Lycoperdon perlatum, Lycoperdon pyriforme, and Russula creminicolor. Sparassis crispa, Pleurotus sp, and Laetiporus sulphureus were recorded most edible and medicinally significant fungi. Morels were also expensive and medicinally important among all harvested macro-fungal species. These were reported to use against common ailments and various health problems. Conclusions: Collection and retailing of WEM contribute to improving the socio-economic status, providing alternative employment and food security to rural people of the area. These mushrooms are used as a source of food and traditional medicines among the rural informants and could be used as a potential source of antibacterial and anticancer drugs in the future.

The exploration, identification and documentation of ethnobotanical resources is important in conservation of plant species for greater interest of human society. In the present study an ethno-botanical survey was conducted to document the traditional and medicinal uses of common plants of Sarsawa, District Kotli (AJK). Ethno medicinal data was collected by the mean of questionnaire method, interviews and direct observation. A total of 103 plant species belonging to 53 plant families were collected and identified. Plants species Verbascum thapsus, Justicia adhatoda, Verbascum thapsus, Terminalia chebula, Chenopodium ambrosioides, Mentha piperita and Solanum nigrum were most commonly used plants in the study area. Family Malvaceae, Poaceae and Rosaceae were the dominant plant families with 6 species respectively. Leaves were the most frequently used part of plants against different ailments

The genus Ramaria is a globally distributed genus inhabiting different substrates. In the present study samples of Ramaria barenthalensis, were collected during a fungal survey from Neelum Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Identification was carried out through combined morpho-anatomical and nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis that confirmed its position as Ramaria barenthalensis. The taxon is a new record to fungi of Kashmir, Pakistan.

The genus Ramaria is globally distributed, inhabiting different substrates. In the present study, samples of R. barenthalensis were collected during a fungal survey from Neelum valley AJK, Pakistan. Identification was carried out through combined morpho-anatomical and molecular data from nrITS region, which confirmed the identification as R. barenthalensis. The taxon is a new record for fungi of AJK, Pakistan.