Tibuhwa, Donatha Damiani2019-07-032020-01-072019-07-032020-01-072002Tibuhwa, D. D. (2002). Taxonomy of termitomyces from Tanzania Coastal areas. Masters dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Available at (http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/search.aspx?formtype=advanced)http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1304Available in print formTermitomyces is a genus of higher fungi that live mutual symbiotic life with termites, distributed throughout tropical areas including Tanzania. Taxonomy of Termitomyces has been achieved by comparative studies of macro-micromorphological features using available published work and cultural studies. Utility of the macro-micromorphological characteristics used in classifying the species of Termitomyces using published work by five taxonomists and results of this study revealed very useful characters to no use in dermacating the species of the genus. The macromorphological features included general morphometry, colour and sizes of the cap, stipe, pseudorhiza, lamella, and spore print. The pinkish colour of the spore print circumscribed the genus itself and not the species within it. Pseudorhiza absence showed to be useful to only two species T.medius and T: microcarpus in which it is missing. However, its colour, size and morphometry were of little use in distinguishing the species of the genus. Based on cap size, out of 25 reviewed species of Termitomyces three groups were categorised. The first group is small sized with 0<Cs<40mm including T:medius, T.microcarpus, T.indicus and T. entolomoides. The second group is the medium sized with 40<Cs<200mm and includes the rest of the studied species except T. eurhizus, T.globolus, T.letestui, T.schimperi, T. umkowaanii, and 1: titarricus which form the third large sized group with cap size range of 2000s<1000mm. Colour of the cap was found to be useful identification criterion although it varies enormously and the pigment responsible for the suites of a certain colour is not yet determined. Morphometry of the microscopic features (basidia, cystidia, and spores) varies insignificantly and their size over lap such that they are of little use as distinguishing criteria between species except to the more related species. However, T citriophyllu.s diverged, in the size of spore and basidia from other member of the genus. The revealed gunsmith spores of T crurcrrltiaeus and T. striates are unique features for species in this genus noted for the first time in this work. The young 1-2 sterigmata revealed in 7: umkowaanii is an additive distinctive feature noted in this species for the first time. Microscopic characters of the culture were similar but macroscopic character differed in colour, odour and patches covering their mat stroma.enTermitomycesTaxonomyTanzania Coastal AreaThesis