Title : Taxonomic study and ecology of polypores of the family Laetiporaceae in western Burkina Faso
Abstract:
The Laetiporaceae constitute a family of polypore characterized by a tomentose appearance with fibrous flesh and bright colourations. The generally vivid colour of these polypores is often exploited by man in dyeing, the pharmaceutical industry and the food industry. This family, which is made up of a number of different genera, is still poorly known in Burkina Faso. However, a few genera and species have been identified in the western part of the country, notably in the classified forests of Kou and Niangoloko, and the agrosystems of Dan, Diéri-Deni and Tin. The aim of this study is to provide information on the taxonomy and ecology of the Laetiporaceae, with a view to developing a database on a number of species in this family in Burkina Faso. To this end, mycological data were collected along transects 1000 m long and 50 m wide in two classified forests and in agrosystems. The fungal species collected were anatomo-morphologically characterized. Species were identified using the polypore identification keys of Ryvarden and Johannsen, 1980. A total of 4 species of the genus Laetiporus have been identified. These are: Laetiporus sulphureus, Laetiporus sp., Piptoporellus baudonii and Phaeolus spadiceus. These species are formidable parasites of trees and shrubs, causing very active cubic brown rot of the wood. Ethnomycological studies need to be undertaken to obtain information on the knowledge and use of these species by local populations in western Burkina Faso.
Keywords: Laetiporaceae, taxonomy, ecology, Burkina Faso
