Oman has recorded a major scientific achievement in biodiversity research with the identification of 10 new wild mushroom varieties in Dhofar Governorate. Seven of them have been documented for the first time worldwide as part of the Wild Mushroom Project, implemented by the Oman Research and Innovation Authority. This was reported by
Al Shabiba, a partner of TV BRICS.
The project has contributed to the scientific study of Oman’s natural resources and their sustainable use. National researchers collected and characterised 331 fungal samples and assessed both wild and cultivated species to explore their nutritional value.
The newly documented fungi have also received scientific names inspired by Oman’s natural landscapes and the locations where they were discovered in Dhofar. These include Termitomyces dhofarensis, named after the governorate, and Hymenagaricus wadijarzeezicus, referring to Wadi Jarzeez, a natural valley.
Other species were named after Salalah and Wadi Darbat, including Conocybe salalahensis, Volvariella darbatica and Agaricus wadidarbaticus. Amylosporus wadinaheezicus takes its name from Wadi Naheez, while Hymenagaricus parvulus was named after the mushroom’s distinctive morphological characteristics.
The findings highlight the richness of Oman’s fungal biodiversity and strengthen the country’s contribution to international research in this field. The project also demonstrates the potential of scientific studies of natural resources to support knowledge development and sustainable applications.