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The present study aimed to generate information on the mushroom diversity from Shyrwat and Upper Shillong Reserve Forests of Meghalaya, Northeast India. A total of 22 mushrooms were collected during the rainy season (July to September) 2014, and identified on the basis of macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. The mushrooms representing 16 ge...
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... morphological and microscopic characteristics of these 7 species were carried out. Classification and frequency of all the species are presented in Table 1 and Table 2, respectively. The macroscopic and microscopic characters of seven identified wild edible mushrooms are discussed below. ...
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Citations
... In Meghalaya, the Khasi tribe has a history of extensive wild mushrooms utilization in subsistence and traditional systems of health (Das et al. 2014). However, with growing urbanization, and changes in the food habits accruing due to it, the ancient tradition of gathering and consuming wild mushrooms by the local Khasi tribals is slowly on the decline (Agrahar-Murugkar and Subbulakshmi 2005 Kalita et al. 2016). Despite the rich diversity of mushrooms utilized and marketed in these areas, research indicates that Auricularia spp. ...
Giri S, Paul P, Pradhan P. 2025. Review: Ethno-mycological perception towards wood ear fungi (Auricularia spp.) in and around the Indian Subcontinent. Asian J For 9: 82-96. The genus Auricularia, commonly called wood ear fungi, is a notable group of basidiomycetes valued for their culinary, medicinal, and nutraceutical properties. These fungi, widely distributed across tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions, play a crucial ecological role as saprophytes and potential plant parasites. Domesticated for over 2,000 years in East Asia, Auricularia spp. has been integral to traditional Chinese medicine, treating ailments such as sore throats, ophthalmia, and staphylococcal infections. Their bioactive compounds exhibit antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic, and immune-enhancing properties, with Auricularia auricula-judae is notable for its lovastatin content, beneficial in managing hypercholesterolemia. In the Indian subcontinent, Auricularia spp. hold significant ethnomycological value, particularly among indigenous communities in the Northeastern states, as well as in Bhutan and Nepal. However, their usage varies, with communities of Tibeto-Burman language family integrating them deeply into culinary and medicinal practices, while communities of Austro-Asiatic language family remain less familiar. This disparity in use is influenced by factors such as cultural practices, availability, and the transmission of traditional knowledge. Despite their economic potential, commercial cultivation in the region is underdeveloped, contrasting with China's dominance in global Auricularia production. With improved cultivation techniques, awareness, and market strategies, these fungi could bolster rural economies. The present review explores the ethno-mycological perception towards the genus Auricularia in and around the Indian sub-continent, highlighting their cultural, medicinal, and economic significance.
... It occupies a mountainous plateau and a variety of forest types ranging from tropical evergreen forests to tropical moist and dry deciduous forests, sub-tropical to sub-temperate coniferous forest and even grasslands to savannas (Haridasan and Rao, 1985-87). Adequate rainfall (about 1150 cm annually), moist climate, humus rich soil and presence of ectomycorrhizal host plants like Castanopsis, Quercus, Lithocarpus, Rhododendron, Schima, Pinus etc. support luxurious growth of both saprophytic and ectomycorrhizal mushrooms on the forest floors of Meghalaya (Berkeley, 1852;Boruah et al., 1996, Boruah et al., 1998Kalita et al., 2016;Kumar et al., 2015). During monsoon, when the forest floors are also flooded with variety of wild mushrooms, the local Khasi and Bhoi tribal peoples and the forest dwellers went on mushroom hunting. ...
Lactarius hatsudake, a reddish latex oozing member of Lactarius section Deliciosi was collected from forests of East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya. This species is well appreciated by the local tribal communities and sold in local markets during monsoon. Detailed macro-and micromorphological description, coupled with internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA (nrITS)-based phylogenetic estimation of this species is presented here. This species is reported for the first time from India.
... 11 New species are continually being discovered as access to hitherto remote biodiverse areas becomes easier. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] The indigenous populations of India, described formally as scheduled tribes (ST), span across many states, with the ST population in Jharkhand comprising 26.2% of the total state population with over 32 indigenous communities. 20 These indigenous communities mainly consist of subsistence farmers and small landholders. ...
Wild edible mushrooms can contribute to dietary diversity, especially among undernourished indigenous communities. A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted to document the availability, taxonomic classification, nutritive values, and consumption frequency of wild mushrooms in four indigenous communities of Jharkhand. Over 70 wild mushrooms were reported during free listing with 35 being regularly consumed during the monsoon season, foraged from wild habitats, including forests and open spaces (roadsides and wastelands). We confirmed the taxonomic identification for sixteen mushrooms. The mushrooms identified belonged to mycorrhizal, termitophilic and saprobic species. Nutritive values were assessed through laboratory analysis (n=8) and secondary review (n=3). Most mushrooms contained significant amounts of proteins (Amanita hemibapha, Russula delica, and Termitomyces heimii), iron and total dietary fibre (Termitomyces and Astraeus). Household consumption patterns revealed once-to-twice-a-week household consumption (30-60%). Thus, identifying approaches to increase consumption, like strategies for local propagation and education about wild mushrooms, could help in leveraging their nutritional potential.
... A significant number of WEMs are found to grow in these forests of Meghalaya. Kalita et al. (2016), in their study, identified 11 edible mushroom species from Meghalaya, among which three species were from the genus Lactarius [viz., Lactarius deliciosus (L.) Gray, L. indigo (Schwein.) Fr., and L. rubidus (Hesler & A.H. Sm.) Methven]. ...
A new record of Lactarius viz., L. hatsudake, is described from the northeastern state of Meghalaya, India. The species was found to grow under Pinus kesiya and widely foraged from the forest by the local tribal communities of the region for their gastronomic delicacy. This taxon is documented here for the first time in India, accompanied by a comprehensive morphological description and an ITS rDNA-based phylogenetic tree. Further, the present study also revealed that L. hatsudake contains high antioxidant potential.
... The tribal people of Meghalaya have built up practical knowledge about wild mushrooms which are edible and those that are inedible through generations. However, many wild edible mushrooms reported from Meghalaya are not properly identified (without any phylogenetic support) or identified only up to the genus level (Barua et al. 1998, Agrahar-Murugkar et Subbulakshmi 2005, Khaund et Joshi 2013, Das et al. 2014, Kalita et al. 2016 Scleroderma Pers. (Sclerodermataceae, Boletales) is an easily recognisable genus of gasteroid fungi, characterised by subglobose, pyriform, or subturbinate basidiomata, a firm peridium which dehisces at maturity, and globose, coloured, and strongly ornamented basidiospores (Guzman 1970). ...
Macrofungal explorations conducted in several forested areas of the East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi
Districts of Meghalaya, India, unveiled two noteworthy members of Scleroderma and Tricholoma.
After careful morphological characterisation, literature consultation, and molecular phylogenetic
analysis, the species were identified as Scleroderma yunnanense and Tricholoma olivaceum, taxa
recently described from China. The local tribal communities highly value these species as food. Here,
we provide comprehensive morphological descriptions complemented with illustrations, comparisons
with similar species, and nrITS-based phylogenetic analyses. Scleroderma yunnanense and
Tricholoma olivaceum are reported for the first time from India.
... However, detailed studies on the nutritional composition and antioxidant potential of Russula species, particularly those found in North East India are still lacking. Several species from the Russulaceae family have also been documented in the neighboring states such as Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya (Ao et al., 2016;Kalita et al., 2016;Thachunglura et al., 2023b). Some prior studies have examined the nutritional values of wild and cultivated mushrooms in Northeast India (Ao and Deb, 2019;Kakoti et al., 2021;Khumlianlal et al., 2023). ...
Integrating mushrooms into diets supports sustainable development goals by increasing nutritional variety, lowering environmental impact compared to livestock cultivation, strengthening local economies, and improving food security. The present study aimed to assess the nutritional value and mineral content of five edible wild mushrooms belonging to the family Russulaceae. In Manipur, wild mushrooms are primarily gathered and highly valued as a traditional nutritious food among the rural poor. Despite this, their nutritional characteristics have not been adequately studied and documented. Lactifluus dwaliensis, Lactifluus volemus, Russula rosea, Russula nigricans, and Russula virescens collected from Churachandpur, Manipur were initially identified based on morphological and molecular analysis. The nutrient analysis of the wild edible mushrooms collected revealed that they are an excellent source of protein and carbohydrates, while containing low amounts of fat. These mushrooms also showed high levels of essential minerals that are essential for human nutrition and overall health.
... Indigenous people who live in hilly locations and ethnic tribes who live in the plains both commonly consume mushrooms that they gather from wild habitats as part of their daily diets and as a source of traditional medicines (Khaund andJoshi, 2013 andAo et al., 2020). Only a few studies revealing the diversity of wild mushrooms from various regions of Northeast India used morphological characteristics to identify them (Kumar et al., 2013;Gogoi and Parkash, 2015;Kalita et al., 2016 andSingh et al., 2017). The taxonomy of numerous fungal groupings is constantly being reorganized as a result of divergences over the classification of fungi based on a certain set of morphological features (Yang, 2011). ...
The state of Arunachal Pradesh located in the eastern Himalayan region is part of the Himalaya biodiversity hotspots. It is the largest mountainous state of India and recognized as a globally important eco-region (out of 200). In the state, people collect and consume wild-growing mushrooms exclusively based on the indigenous knowledge of the morphology of fruiting bodies. Information on the level of genetic diversity among these varieties is scarce. The genetic diversity of 10 wild edible mushrooms (WEM) represent almost all the common mushrooms sold and eaten by local people of East Siang, Arunachal Pradesh was assessed using 21 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. These markers revealed polymorphism among the strains of WEM. The average number of polymorphic alleles (3.07) and polymorphic information content (PIC = 0.40) per locus were detected among the strains. The genetic similarity among varieties using the Jaccard’s similarity coefficient ranged from 0.37 to 0.83. Unweighted pair group method using arithmetic mean (UPGMA) clustering showed two major clusters and three singletons. This study represents the first evidence of the presence of genetic diversity in WEM from East Siang, Arunachal Pradesh. Divergent varieties with complementing traits could be crossed to develop productive hybrid mushroom varieties.
... Within China L. indigo is often collected and can be found being sold as a food item within the markets of Yunnan (Wang, 2000) and perhaps has a long history of appreciation. Elsewhere, L. indigo has also been reported as a collected edible mushroom from Meghalayais in the North-eastern region of India (Kalita et al., 2016) as well as Meghalaya (Kumar et al., 2015). Also reported for the first time in Korea, in 2011 (Ban and Cho, 2011) although the use as an edible mushroom here is unknown. ...
... Within Asia, the GBIF data only displays records for Japan. In contrast, within the literature records also exist from China (Wang, 2000), India (Kalita et al., 2016;Kumar et al., 2015) and Korea (Ban and Cho, L. subindigo has a superficial resemblance to L. indigo but differs by having smaller spores with different ornamentation presentation (Verbeken and Horak, 2000;Nuytinck et al., 2006a). Further, in a reanalysis of Asiatic herbarium material of L. indigo, many samples were actually found to be L. subindigo rather than L. indigo and this has led to the suggestion that many previous reports of L. indigo from Asia should be critically re-checked (Nuytinck et al., 2006a). ...
Land use conflict is a major contributor to unsustainable deforestation rates, with agriculture being the primary driver. Demand for agricultural output is forecast to increase for years to come and the associated deforestation is a key driver in global declines of biodiversity. Moreover, deforestation is contributing to instability of agricultural production systems and reduces our ability to mitigate anthropogenically driven climate change. There is urgency in reducing this land use conflict and the cultivation of ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) may provide a partial solution.
As an example, here we focus on Lactarius indigo, an edible and historically appreciated species with distribution in the Neotropics and Nearctic. Exploring the geographic spread and associated climate preferences, we describe how cultivation of this species can be combined with forest-based biodiversity and conservation goals. Detailing a full methodology, including mycelium production and how to create trees that may produce the fungus, we explore potential benefits. Combing data from the emerging field of EMF cultivation with nutritional studies, we show that a protein production of 7.31 kg per hectare should be possible, exceeding that of extensive pastoral beef production. In contrast to commercial agriculture, L. indigo cultivation may enhance biodiversity, contribute to conservational goals and create a net sink of greenhouse gases whilst at the same time producing a similar or higher level of protein per unit area than the most common agriculture use of deforested land. With such startling and clear benefits, we call for urgent action to further the development of such novel food production systems.
... and L. laccata (Scop.) Cooke also have great cultural, social, and economic value and are harvested for income and as food in different parts of the world (McKnight et al. 1998, Pérez-Moreno et al. 2008, Kalita et al. 2016, Wu et al. 2019. Laccaria squarrosa Bandala, Montoya & A. Ramos, however, is a recently described species. ...
Background:
Pinus (Coniferophyta) and Laccaria (Basidiomycota) establish ectomycorrhizal symbioses in natural forests. However, their detailed morphoanatomical and phylogenetic characterization have received little attention. Accurate identification of native host symbionts is of paramount relevance to the production of mycorrhized seedlings for successful reforestation programs.
Questions/Objective:
We aimed to determine if L. squarrosa is able to establish ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with gymnosperms, thereby widening its host range and highlighting its relevance as a potential inoculant for pine seedlings. Currently, L. squarrosa is only known from its type collection associated with the angiosperm Fagus grandifolia var. mexicana.
Studied species:
The fungus L. squarrosa and Pinus pseudostrobus, a tree endemic to Mexico.
Study site and dates:
A Pinus-Quercus forest in Piedra Canteada, Nanacamilpa, Tlaxcala; 2018-2020.
Methods:
L. squarrosa basidiomata were identified and ectomycorrhizal roots were collected and morphoanatomically characterized. For molecular identification, DNA was extracted, PCR was performed targeting the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (nucrDNA ITS) for the mycobiont identification and the chloroplastic single-locus trnL region for the phytobiont.
Results:
In the phylogenetic analyses, our sequences from basidiomata and ectomycorrhizae clustered together with L. squarrosa with high values of supporting identity. Meanwhile, P. pseudostrobus was molecularly identified as the phytobiont.
Conclusions:
This is one of the few worldwide characterizations of Laccaria ectomycorrhiza under field conditions and contributes to the understanding of the ecology, distribution, and economic relevance of the symbiotic association. Our data suggest that L. squarrosa has potential for use as a native inoculant for P. pseudostrobus tree production.
... Ethnomycological studies on wild edible and medicinal mushrooms have been carried out in different parts of India [9,10,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26], and the world, especially Africa [27][28][29][30][31], but such studies are rare in Jammu and Kashmir [2,[11][12][13][32][33][34][35]. Quantitative analysis of traditional knowledge using cultural importance index [36] and factor informant consensus [37] has become increasingly popular in recent times. ...
... higher number of WEM (Table 1). A number of other studies in Jammu and Kashmir [11,48,49], India [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] and other countries [29,30,50] have also reported the higher role of Females, elderly and illiterate informants in the collection of non-wood forest products and WEM. ...
Background: Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has a rich tradition of usage of wild edible mushrooms (WEM) for culinary and medicinal purposes. But very few studies, restricted to some regions of the Union Territory, have been conducted to enlist the WEM. District Jammu has never been explored for WEM. Moreover, the quantification of the traditional knowledge of WEM has not been carried out as yet in J&K. Therefore, the present study was conducted in Jammu district with aims of; enlisting the WEM and its usage, finding the most used WEM, and enumerating the consensus of usage for a species and associated knowledge.
Methods: Data of use reports was collected as per semi–structured questionnaire from 192 randomly selected informants. The cultural importance index (CI) and informant consensus factor (Fic) were calculated on the basis of use reports. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the significance of differences in the usage of WEM among the different informant categories.
Results: Results of the present study show that the locals were having the knowledge of fourteen fleshy fungi that are mainly utilized for culinary purposes. They also affirmed various medicinal values of some of these fungi. Termitomyces sp. (CI, 0.57) was the most important and diversely used species. Termitomyces heimii, Termitomyces clypeatus and Termitomyces striatus var. annulatus were the other frequently consumed species by the locals. More than 78.6% of these WEM were new records as culinary and medicinal for Jammu and Kashmir (UT). Agaricaceae and Lyophyllaceae were the largest families and Termitomyces (5 species) the most represented genera. Females, elders, and informants who have not attended schools were having significantly (P<0.05) higher information regarding WEM. The maximum consensus was recorded for the use of WEM as culinary with 596 citations and 0.98 Fic, and the minimum homogeneity was found for their use in skin diseases (42 citations and 0.76 Fic).
Conclusion: The inhabitants of district Jammu had good knowledge of WEM, but no documentation, lying of most of the information with elders and uneducated people, and destruction of forests and other natural habitats of WEM pose serious threat of losing this valuable information in near future. An ardent need is to educate locals regarding regionally available WEM. Further studies are recommended for developing protocols of cultivation of these WEM so that their future availability is ascertained along with creating income resources for the local population.
