Yellow Puffball Mushroom: A Rare Fungal Discovery from Arunachal Pradesh

Yellow Puffball Mushroom: A Rare Fungal Discovery from Arunachal Pradesh

The recent discovery of a rare Yellow Puffball Mushroom, tentatively identified as Bovista colorata, in Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh highlights the rich and largely unexplored fungal diversity of the Eastern Himalayan region. The species was documented during a field survey conducted by scientists from ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Longding in Zedua village in June 2026.

Puffball mushrooms belong to a group of fungi characterized by their closed, spherical fruiting bodies. Unlike typical mushrooms, they do not possess gills beneath a cap. Instead, they produce millions of microscopic spores within a sealed structure. When mature, the internal tissue transforms into a powdery spore mass that is dispersed by wind, rain, or physical disturbance.