Two Pleurotus Species (Pleurotaceae) From Lao People's Democratic Republic

Pleurotus is widely distributed and the most commonly cultivated edible mushroom genus worldwide. In addition to being widely consumed, some species have medical, biotechnological and environmental applications owing to their bioactivities. In this study, we report two Pleurotus species from Laos. Pleurotus djamor is reported for the first time from Laos, while P. giganteus a common species in Laos is also reported. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (nrITS) were performed in addition to the morphological analysis to confirm their identification. Full descriptions, color photo plates, micrographs, and taxonomic comparisons are provided.