Molecular identification of True Morels (Morchella spp.) from the Hindu Kush temperate forests leads to three new records from Pakistan

True morels (Morchella spp.) are highly priced for their edibility and unique flavor. The Hindu Kush mountains' forests of Pakistan are rich in morel diversity due to the prevailing climatic conditions and presence of mixed coniferous forests which serve as symbiotic hosts for them. In this study, we have examined the diversity of yellow and black Morchella spp (classified by common masses). From the Hindu Kush forests of Pakistan during the months of March to April in the summer of 2017 by employing genetic markers - Internal Transcribed Spacer region ITS of the nuclear ribosomal DNA. Inter and intraspecific polymorphisms among these species and phylogenetic relationships were also observed. Phylogenetic Tree was prepared using the Maximum Likelihood (ML) criterion. Maximum Likelihood analysis was conducted on RAxML on the CIPRES portal using the GTR + R model employed 1000 bootstrap replicates. The final aligned data set for ML phylogeny through the ITS marker is 750 base pairs long. Based on ITS gene regions and microscopic studies, we have identified M. elata, M. crassipes, and M. spongiola these Morchella spp. which are the first time identified species from Pakistan. M. crassipes is characterized by having narrowly ellipsoid, pale yellowish hymenophore and smooth-walled ascospores. M. elata shows narrowly conical, soft, hollow pale yellow hymenophore and guttulated, smooth-walled ascospores. M. spongiola broadly conical, brown in color hymenophore and ellipsoid, non-guttulate, smoothwalled ascospores. This is a first study comprehending the diversity and molecular taxonomy of yellow and black Morels from Pakistan.