The use of non-wood forest products by migrants in a new settlement: experiences of a Visayan community in Palawan, Philippines

Background

More than twelve temperate-inhabitant Mexican ethnic groups are considered to be mycophilic and to have extensive traditional mycological knowledge. In contrast, inhabitants of tropical lands have been studied only superficially and their mycological knowledge is less well known. In this paper, we report the results of an ethnomycological research in markets of a wide area of the Mexican tropics. Our aims were to describe the dynamics related to the traditional selling process of wild mushrooms and to determine the tendencies of informants toward mushrooms (mycophily vs. mycophoby).

Methods

We visited 25 markets of 12 different settlements in the states of Oaxaca, Tabasco and Veracruz and collected information by participant observation as well as by 291 non-structured and semi-structured interviews.

Results

Mushroom selling was observed in four towns in Oaxaca and in two in Tabasco. Women represented 81.82% of sellers, while indigenous people (Chinantecos, Chontales, Ch'oles and Zoques) comprised 68.18%. Mushroom commercialization took place in secondary mobile markets and only in peasant stands. Mushroom collectors gather the resource in places with secondary vegetation, farmed areas and cattle fields. Because of land tenure restrictions mushroom sellers did not normally collect mushrooms themselves. In Oaxaca, we observed economic dynamics not based on capitalism, such as exchange, reciprocity and barter.

Conclusion

The sale of some wild edible mushrooms, the large amounts of commercialization of Schizophyllum commune, the complicated intermediary process, as well as the insertion of mushrooms into different informal economic practices are all evidence of an existent mycophily in a sector of the population of this region of the Mexican tropics. Among our informants, urban mestizo people were mycophobic, rural mestizo people were non-mycophilic and indigenous people were true mycophilic.     

Using Local Ecological Knowledge to Assess Morel Decline in the U.S. Mid–Atlantic Region

Using Local Ecological Knowledge to Assess Morel Decline in the U.S. Mid–Atlantic Region. Morels (Morchella spp.) are prized wild edible mushrooms. In the United States, morels are the focus of family traditions, local festivals, mycological society forays, and social media, as well as substantial commercial trade. A majority of the anglophone research on morels has been conducted in Europe and in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Midwest. This literature provides insights into a diverse and plastic genus, but much of its biology and ecology remains a mystery. In 2004, we initiated a study of morel mushroom harvesting in the U.S. Mid–Atlantic region in response to concerns that morels might be in decline in the national parks in that area. This paper presents results from that research with an emphasis on morel hunters’ local ecological knowledge of morel types, phenology, habitat, vegetative associations, and responses to disturbance. We conclude that experienced morel harvesters possess local ecological knowledge that complements scientific knowledge and can increase our understanding of the complex and regionally variable ecology of Morchella and inform conservation efforts.     

Mushrooms, tumors, and immunity.

Medicinal properties have been attributed to mushrooms for thousands of years. Mushroom extracts are widely sold as nutritional supplements and touted as beneficial for health. Yet, there has not been a critical review attempting to integrate their nutraceutical potential with basic science. Relatively few studies are available on the biologic effects of mushroom consumption, and those have been performed exclusively in murine models. In this paper, we review existing data on the mechanism of whole mushrooms and isolated mushroom compounds, in particular (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans, and the means by which they modulate the immune system and potentially exert tumor-inhibitory effects. We believe that the antitumor mechanisms of several species of whole mushrooms as well as of polysaccharides isolated from Lentinus edodes, Schizophyllum commune, Grifola frondosa, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum are mediated largely by T cells and macrophages. Despite the structural and functional similarities of these glucans, they differ in their effectiveness against specific tumors and in their ability to elicit various cellular responses, particularly cytokine expression and production. Unfortunately, our data base on the involvement of these important mediators is still rather limited, as are studies concerning the molecular mechanisms of the interactions of glucans with their target cells. As long as it remains unclear what receptors are involved in, and what downstream events are triggered by, the binding of these glucans to their target cells, it will be difficult to make further progress in understanding not only their antitumor mechanisms but also their other biological activities.     

Wild Mushroom Markets in Central Mexico and a Case Study at Ozumba

Wild Mushroom Markets in Central Mexico and a Case Study at Ozumba. More than 200 species of wild edible mushrooms are consumed in Mexico, and over 100 are sold in local, regional, and wholesale markets. This paper analyzes general trends in the commercialization of wild edible mushrooms at twelve markets in central Mexico, where at least 90 species are sold and more than 100 local names were registered. The paper then focuses its analysis on the traditional market at Ozumba (state of Mexico) near Izta-Popo and Zoquiapan national parks. In 2006, 411 stands selling more than 60 mushroom species were sampled throughout the year to record information on the vendors and the species they sold. The greatest diversity of species was recorded in July and August. More than 90% of the wild mushroom vendors were women, and 64% were 40 to 60 years old. The economic value of wild mushrooms in some regions of Mexico appears to contribute to the maintenance of traditional ethnobiological knowledge, generally observed to be in overall decline.     

Conservation efforts based on local ecological knowledge: The role of social variables in identifying environmental indicators

The incorporation of local ecological knowledge in monitoring processes has been one of the great challenges of conservation initiatives worldwide. Therefore, it is essential to use indicators as local evaluation tools of the conditions of a species in order to support conservation actions. Local populations observe the environment, climate change and the influence of these factors on the species they use. However, their observations and perceptions may vary depending on different social factors. We used as model two species of economic importance involved in sociobiodiversity product chains to evaluate the role of social variables in the identification of conservation indicators for this plants. The species studied were: Caryocar coriaceum Wittm. (locally known as pequi), and Himatanthus drasticus (Mart.) Plumel (locally known as janaguba). We also registered which indicators are perceived as the most important and what they are measuring. Our results show that the knowledge among collectors is homogeneous and that, generally, the social factors do not affect the knowledge on local indicators. Age and extraction time were factors that influenced the knowledge on climate indicators and population structure only for C. coriaceum. In the communities studied, collectors not only monitor the biological characteristics of the species, but also the environmental and climatic phenomena that are threatening the sustainability of the species. These results can help to improve our ability to manage information about natural resources, incorporating local ecological knowledge in the scientific process of evaluation and monitoring of biodiversity.     

Mushrooms, tumors, and immunity: an update

There is significant interest in the use of mushrooms and/or mushroom extracts as dietary supplements based on theories that they enhance immune function and promote health. To some extent, select mushrooms have been shown to have stimulatory action on immune responsiveness, particularly when studied in vitro. However, despite their widespread use for potential health benefits, there is a surprising paucity of epidemiologic and experimental studies that address the biologic activities of mushrooms after oral administration to animals or humans. There have been a number of studies that have addressed the ability of mushrooms to modulate mononuclear cell activation and the phenotypic expression of cytokines and their cognate receptors. There have also been a number of attempts to determine antitumor activities of mushrooms. Such studies are important because many of the components of mushrooms do potentially have significant biologic activity. All data, however, should be tempered by the possibility that there are toxic levels of metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury as well as the presence of radioactive contamination with 137Cs. In this review, we will present the comparative biology with respect to both immunological and antitumor activities of mushroom extracts and also highlight the need for further evidence-based research.     

我国食用菌遗传学的发展及展望

食用菌遗传学是食用菌学科体系的重要分支之一,40年来我国食用菌遗传学研究紧密围绕为育种服务、最新分子生物学技术的应用和生产实践中的科学问题的解决等主题开展了众多科学活动.为了促进食用菌遗传学研究的系统性和全面性,本文梳理出9个方面的研究主题,主要包括食用菌种质资源调查和地方品种研究、食用菌农艺性状控制基因定位和分子辅助...     

Agaricus subrufescens: A review

Medicinal mushrooms have currently become a hot issue due to their various therapeutic properties. Of these, Agaricus subrufescens, also known as the “almond mushroom”, has long been valued by many societies (i.e., Brazil, China, France, and USA). Since its discovery in 1893, this mushroom has been cultivated throughout the world, especially in Brazil where several strains of A. subrufescens have been developed and used as health food and alternative medicine. This article presents up-to-date information on this mushroom including its taxonomy and health promoting benefits. Medicinal properties of A. subrufescens are emphasized in several studies which are reviewed here. In addition, safety issues concerning the use of this fungus will be discussed.     

Declining Wild Mushroom Recognition and Usage in Burkina Faso

Declining Wild Mushroom Recognition and Usage in Burkina Faso. Ethnomycological investigation was carried out in Burkina Faso, West Africa, using standardized interviews focused on 40 representative mushroom species assembled in a traveling herbarium (photographs plus preserved specimens). A total of 540 informants from 18 localities representing three main ethnic groups—Mòosé, Bobo, and Gouin—were interviewed, though the bulk of those interviewed were Mòosé (or Mossi) from the more populous central region of the country. Among the study species, as many as 24 were considered edible by the different ethnic groups; a few medicinal uses also were noted. The edibility of a common Chlorophyllum species is confirmed for the three ethnic groups. Mushroom nomenclature is not well developed in any of the three groups as evidenced by the fact that many mushrooms, including some common edible species, do not appear to have specific local names, but are instead simply referred to by a general term for “mushroom.” Preliminary observations about inter–ethnic variation in recognition, naming, and appreciation of mushrooms are noted. Older people recognized many more mushroom species than did younger people, and women appeared to be slightly more knowledgeable about mushrooms than men. The most important finding is that the gathering and consumption of wild edible mushrooms seems to be dying out in Burkina Faso, especially in the central part of the country, apparently because of declining mushroom populations resulting from disappearing forest habitats. NOTE TO VENDOR: In place of the corresponding author, send proof to this paper’s editor, David Aroro, maxfun @cruzio.com     

Potential benefits and harms: a review of poisonous mushrooms in the world

Mushrooms have long been considered as delicacies as well as used as important dietary supplements and food. However, there are major concerns with poisonous mushrooms as these pose threats to public health and safety. In this paper, we provide a review focusing on poisonous mushrooms, their toxins, symptoms and utilizations. In addition, this paper establishes a poisonous mushroom list which includes 643 species from two phyla, 16 orders, 51 families and 148 genera. The toxicity of all these species was verified and 332 species were ranked as P1 signifying that these species have toxic studies and or clinical poisoning case records and 311 species were P2 meaning they had previously been recorded as poisonous in other studies. Furthermore, we discuss advances in technology including how genomic studies could be used as a breakthrough tool in the field of toxic mushrooms. With this comprehensive review, we aim to promote public awareness of poisonous mushrooms, including how to avoid mushroom poisoning, and how to better utilize poisonous mushroom resources.     

食用菌培植业思考与展望

食用菌生产应该与种植业、养殖业并驾齐驱,称之为食用菌培植业,是农业生产领域内的三大基础产业。解决野生食用菌的产量、质量问题,是野生食用菌产业化开发的瓶颈;必须另辟蹊径,发展食用菌原生态野生化生产,实现野生食用菌的规模化、产业化发展。对双孢蘑菇野生化生产和菌菜轮作进行了探讨,为我国双孢蘑菇的生产发展另辟蹊径;建议我国的双孢蘑菇生产朝两化一作的方向发展。     

云南松林野生食用菌物种多样性及保护对策

近年来,随着野生食用菌的商业化采收规模急剧扩大,云南松（Pinus yunnanensis）林下野生食用菌尤其是野生贸易真菌的种类和产量呈逐年下降趋势。作者于2000－2004年夏,对滇中及其邻近地区云南松林下野生食用菌的资源状况进行了调查研究。作者共采集、鉴定标本457号,并对他人采自云南松林下的152号馆藏标本也进行了重新鉴定,共统计野生食用菌27科39属147种（含变种、变型）;同时对市场上出售的采自云南松林下的野生食用菌类群也进行了调查统计,共收集、鉴定标本167号,计21科33属97种（含变种、变型）。调查结果显示,目前记录云南松林产野生食用菌共计27科43属211种（含变种、变型）,野生贸易真菌有23科35属111种（含变种、变型）。其中红菇科（Russulaceae）的种数最多,包括红菇属（Russula）32种,乳菇属（Lactarius）17种,分别占总种数的15.17%和8.06%;牛肝菌科（Boletaceae）占第二位,有41种,占总种数的19.43%。其次是口蘑科（Tricholomataceae）17种,占总种数的8.06%。丛枝瑚菌科（Ramariaceae）有11种,乳牛肝菌科（Suillaceae）11种,鸡油菌科（Cantharellaceae）9种,三者的种数占总种数的百分比分别为5.21%、5.21%和4.27%。在这些类群当中,红菇属、牛肝菌属（Boletus）、乳菇属、乳牛肝菌属（Suillus）、枝瑚菌属（Ramaria）、口蘑属（Tricholoma）、鸡油菌属（Cantharellus）和革菌属（Thelephora）的30余种真菌为云南市场上最为常见的野生贸易类群,约占云南优势野生贸易真菌种数的47.50%。作者呼吁立即采取行之有效的措施保护和管理这些珍贵的自然资源,并加强研究,以期达到持续利用之目的。     

Current findings,future trends,and unsolved problems in studies of medicinal mushrooms

The target of the present review is to draw attention to many critically important unsolved problems in the future development of medicinal mushroom science in the twenty-first century. Special attention is paid to mushroom polysaccharides. Many, if not all, higher Basidiomycetes mushrooms contain biologically active polysaccharides in fruit bodies, cultured mycelium, and cultured broth. The data on mushroom polysaccharides are summarized for approximately 700 species of higher Hetero- and Homobasidiomycetes. The chemical structure of polysaccharides and its connection to antitumor activity, including possible ways of chemical modification, experimental testing and clinical use of antitumor or immunostimulating polysaccharides, and possible mechanisms of their biological action, are discussed. Numerous bioactive polysaccharides or polysaccharide–protein complexes from medicinal mushrooms are described that appear to enhance innate and cell-mediated immune responses and exhibit antitumor activities in animals and humans. Stimulation of host immune defense systems by bioactive polymers from medicinal mushrooms has significant effects on the maturation, differentiation, and proliferation of many kinds of immune cells in the host. Many of these mushroom polymers were reported previously to have immunotherapeutic properties by facilitating growth inhibition and destruction of tumor cells. While the mechanism of their antitumor actions is still not completely understood, stimulation and modulation of key host immune responses by these mushroom polymers appears central. Particularly and most importantly for modern medicine are polysaccharides with antitumor and immunostimulating properties. Several of the mushroom polysaccharide compounds have proceeded through phases I, II, and III clinical trials and are used extensively and successfully in Asia to treat various cancers and other diseases. A total of 126 medicinal functions are thought to be produced by medicinal mushrooms and fungi including antitumor, immunomodulating, antioxidant, radical scavenging, cardiovascular, antihypercholesterolemia, antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antifungal, detoxification, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic effects.     

Implications of local knowledge of the ecology of a wild super sweetener for its domestication and commercialization in West and Central Africa

Despite its local use as a fiber and international trade in thaumatin, the intensely sweet protein derived from its fruit, little ecological information aboutThaumatococcus daniellii (Benn.) Benth. is in the public domain. Here, we combine systematic studies of the local knowledge of plant collectors and cultivators in Ghana with a thorough evaluation of the plant’s natural distribution in order to explore possibilities for increasing the contribution that it makes to sustaining rural livelihoods in West and Central Africa. The natural range goes well beyond where commercial collection and cultivation have been previously reported. Local knowledge was found to be detailed and explanatory. Its acquisition has refined our understanding of the ecology of the plant, although some significant gaps remain, particularly with respect to pollination. The market for thaumatin is ripe for expansion, and the plant has untapped potential as an intercrop for rubber and cocoa. Further domestication needs to be accompanied by consideration of impacts on the livelihoods of those who presently collect fruit from the wild, and of opportunities for increasing the value that accrues within Africa through the development of local processing capacity.     

云南普洱地区野生食药用菌及其持续利用

2002—2009年夏,对云南省普洱市澜沧县、景东县及其周边地区野生食用菌的物种多样性、用途或特性以及濒危等级进行了调查研究,共采集、鉴定标本593份,并对采于该区的214份馆藏标本进行了统计,野生食用菌共计35科61属134种(含变种、变型)。同时对该区市场上出售的野生贸易类群也进行了调查统计,有28科39属95种(含变种、变型)。迄今普洱共计有野生食用菌38科67属155种(含变种、变型),其中多孔菌科(Polyporaceae)所含种数最多,有17种,占总种数的10.97%;红菇科(Russulaceae)和牛肝菌科(Bo-letaceae)皆为16种,共占总种数的20.65%,灵芝菌科(Ganodermataceae)有11种,占总种数7.1%。在这些类群当中,木耳属(Auricularia)、牛肝菌属(Boletus)、乳菇属(Lactarius)、枝瑚菌属(Ramaria)、红菇属(Russula)、蚁巢菌属(Termitomyces)和革菌属(Thelephora)等属的42种真菌为普洱市场上最常见的野生贸易类群,约占云南优势野生贸易真菌总种数的52.5%。近年来,随着人们对野生食用菌消费需求的日益增长,导致其商业化采收规模急剧扩大,造成生存环境的破坏甚至丧失,从而使普洱野生食用菌,尤其是野生贸易类群的产量呈逐年下降趋势。因此,亟待采取行之有效的措施保护和管理这些珍贵的自然资源,以期达到持续利用之目的。     

Collection and Use of Wild Edible Fungi in Nepal

Collection and Use of Wild Edible Fungi in Nepal. The significance of the contribution of wild edible mushrooms to rural livelihoods is acknowledged, but remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the collection of wild edible Nepalese fungi, which species are used, and what are the specific characteristics of the collectors and the collection. Data were collected using 282 structured questionnaires, interviews, and forest walks in 17 districts, environmental household accounts from 413 households in two communities, and a review of literature. A total of 228 species of wild fungi are confirmed to be used for food, and collection is most widespread among the high-mountain Tibeto-Nepalese ethnic groups, which collect an average of 18.1 kilograms (kg) fresh mushrooms per year per household, with some households collecting as much as 160 kg. We found no relation between wealth status and subsistence collection, although the commercial collectors are predominantly the poor earning up to six months of unskilled labor salary per season. Given the limited local trade and occurrence of globally marketed species, the scope for increasing contributions to rural livelihoods from collection of mushrooms, and risks in relation to this are briefly discussed.     

“食用菌产量和品质形成的分子机理及调控”项目简介——食用菌产业发展与技术创新的科学基础

食用菌以子实体为收获物,是优质蛋白的重要来源,我国重要的食物安全战略产业,已经成为我国粮、菜、果、油之后的第五大产值农作物,2013年产量3 169.68万吨（中国食用菌协会统计）,直接产值1 707亿元,间接产值6 828亿元,从业人口逾2 000万。我国食用菌产量已占全球总产量的75%以上。但是,与食用菌产业相关的基础科学研究严重匮乏,对产量和品质形成的关键科学问题研究的空白,严重制约着我国食用菌育种和栽培等产业技术的创新,导致单产低、质量差,产业链难以延长,产业效益持续下降,产业升级艰难。科学基础研究的缺乏,已经成为食用菌产业发展的瓶颈。2014年立项的国家重点基础研究发展计划（973）项目“食用菌产量和品质形成的分子机理及调控”（2014CB138300）,紧紧抓住困扰我国食用菌产业发展的科学问题,开展食用菌高效利用木质纤维素的分子机制、食用菌子实体形成发育的调控机理、食用菌温度响应的分子机制、食用菌活性物质及其合成代谢的分子基础和食用菌优异种质性状形成的遗传基础研究,拟阐释食用菌子实体形成的营养利用与遗传调控机制、食用菌抗逆性的温度响应机制和食用菌活性物质的合成代谢调控机理。构建食用菌科学理论体系,为食用菌产业关键技术创新奠定科学基础,为优质高产提供理论指导,为延长产业链,提高产业效益提供科学路径。