First record of <i> Morchella pulchella</i> from Pakistan

Abstract

A species of true morel ( Morchella ) was collected in the Malam Jabba valley in the Swat District of Pakistan in April 2015. The specimen was identified by sequencing portions of RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1), second largest subunit (RPB2), and translation elongation factor-1α (tef1). Phylogenetic analysis of the partial tef1 sequence indicated the collection was M. pulchella , previously reported from China, Turkey, and Europe. Our report extends its distribution range to Pakistan.