Penemuan Langka! BRIN Ungkap Musang Eksotic Morchella Dari Gunung Rinjani

The results of a scan by Morchella Rinjaniensis, a newgal fungi species discovered by researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in the Rinjani Biosphere Reserve area, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. BETWEEN ANTARA/HO-BRIN

JAKARTA - Researcher from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has successfully described a new species of fungalul (Morchella) from the Mount Rinjani Biosphere Reserve area, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

The species is named Morchella rinjaniensis, refers to its location of discovery, and became the first tropical Morchella fungi species from Indonesia that was scientifically described through morphological approaches and molecular analysis.

"These species have a unique combination of characters that are not found in other types of Morchella, both morphologically and molecularly," said BRIN's Center for Biosystematics and Evolution (PRBE) researcher, Atik Retnowati, in a written statement in Jakarta, Antara, Monday, July 28.

Atik menjelaskan bahwa fungi ini memiliki tubuh buah besar dengan pola rumah (pits) dan ridges yang tidak beruran, serta spora berukuran beruas besar yang musarnya menampilkan pola seruan. Citra-charita ini memperbedahkannya dari spesies Morchella lain yang telah terdokutasi sebelumnya.

Based on genetic analysis of four genes, Morchella rinjaniensis shows significant differences over other Morchella species, so it is scientifically categorized as a new species.

These mushrooms were found growing wildly on the slopes of Mount Rinjani at an altitude of between 900 and 1,200 meters in a number of hiking trails such as Torean, Senaru, Sembalun, Tetebatu, and Aik Berik. Usually, this fungus appears during the transition from the rainy season to the dry season, around April to May.

"These species can grow up to 19 centimeters long, and are often found in semi-open areas or near small water flows under the auspices of natural forest vegetation," said Atik.

This natural habitat of fungi is also noted to be under the canopy of plants from families such as Eleocarpaceae, Urticaceae, and Myrtaceae. Through the analysis of phylogenetic trees, Morchella rinjaniensis is placed in one klade with Morchella Galilaea, but has clear morphological and genetic differences.

In addition to being important from a scientific point of view, Atik assesses that Morchella rinjaniensis has economic potential because it is one of the fungi groups that can be consumed.

"This Jamur has the potential to be developed as an alternative food source with high value," he said.

For this reason, he emphasized the importance of conservation-based conservation strategies in order to preserve this mushroom population in nature. According to him, this step is in line with the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program which encourages sustainable management of conservation areas, including through the use of the biospheric transition zone.

Atik also hopes that this finding will be an initial basis for the development of environmentally friendly fungal cultivation and provide economic benefits for the people around the Rinjani area.

The results of this study have been published in the international journal Mycobiology Volume 53(4), page 367378 of 2025, with the title Morchella rinjaniensis: A Novel Species of Tropical Morchella (Ascomycota, Pezizales, and Morchellaceae) Discovered in UNESCO Rinjani-Lombok Biosphere Reserve, Indonesia by Retnowati et al. (2025).