Wood-decaying polypores in the Lobaye Forest Reserve - CAR

An inventory of wood-decaying polypores was conducted in the Lobaye Forest Reserve in the Central African Republic from August to October 2008. The collected samples were described macroscopically and illustrated with drawings of the entire fruiting bodies, longitudinal sections, and pore morphology. Microscopic examination enabled the identification, description, and illustration of the spores. This study identified 30 species of wood-decaying fungi belonging to the order Aphyllophorales, comprising 17 genera and 8 families. Specifically, the Polyporaceae family is the most represented with 7 genera and 11 species, accounting for 37%; the Coriolaceae family with 3 genera and 8 species, accounting for 27%; the Ganodermataceae family with 2 genera and 5 species, accounting for 17%; followed by the other families, each with 1 genus and 1 species, accounting for 3% each. These are, respectively: Hymenochaetaceae, Podoscyphaceae, Steccherinaceae, and Stereaceae. This study is necessary to determine the best strategies for controlling these organisms, which cause financial losses to forestry companies.