ABSTRACT
Scleroderma sinnamariense Mont. is a bright yellow ectomycorrhizal fungus with a pantropical distribution (Guzman and Ovrebo 2000) which was originally described in French Guiana. This fungus is a gasteromycete and produces macroscopic sporocarps called “puffballs” (Fig. 1). These yellowish leathery, rounded structures become dry and crack at maturity, releasing dry powdery basidiospores which are dispersed by wind. The basidiomes are not eaten in Cameroon by humans but it is possible that they are eaten by some animals including small mammals, birds and insects. They are, however, eaten by humans in Asia. S. sinnamariense is commonly recorded
Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P. O. Box 63 Buea, South West Region, Republic of Cameroon. Email: tamenekeso@yahoo.co.uk
in SE Asia (Sims et al. 1995) where it is reported to form ectomycorrhizas with members of the Dipterocarpaceae and Gnetaceae (Watling 1994, Cadiz and Florido 2001). It has also been recorded in Cameroon (Bechem and Alexander 2009, 2012a, Onguene and Kuyper 2001, Ingleby 1999) where it forms ectomycorrhiza with Gnetum spp. The ectomycorrhizal status of this fungus is proven, but unlike other species of the genus Scleroderma, such as S. citrinum Pers., S. aurantium Viall.: Pers., S. vulgare Horn., which have also been shown to occur as saprotrophs on rotting wood (Jeffries 1999), S. sinnamariense has been demonstrated to form typical ECM (Bechem and Alexander 2009). There are no records to show that this species is capable of a free-living saprotrophic existence. Richter and Bruhn (1989) suggested that the genus was wholly mycorrhizal and not partly saprotrophic. This suggestion was based on data collected from enzyme tests.
