Luigi Rinaldi’s scientific contributions

For several years 1985-2006, the CSPLFM of Borgotaro used mushrooms as environmental bioindicators in collaboration with the former USL n.6 of Parma and with the former PMPs of Parma and Piacenza. In this work, data relating to Cu and Mn were extracted from the archives, metals now reevaluated for dietary purposes with the hope that these analytical results can be useful to specialists in the medical sector, veterinarians and nutritional biologists.

Continues with 2007 -2012 data our research on contamination radiometric on wild mushrooms in hilly and mountainous areas which close the Emilia West bordering Tuscany and Liguria. Research is now limited to six pollutants (Iodine-131, Cesium-134, Cesium-137, Potassium-40, Beryllium-7, Cobalt-60) which was considered as the most important after the fact of Chernobyl. Research increasingly targeted mushroom including Regional List of fresh mushrooms wild edible was in some years extended to other species as well as the two seasons have allowed a limited fungal growth for the excessive drought. The following tables show the measurements on samples delivered and presented (after collection, determination, drying, locatio) to ARPA of Piacenza which is also interested in the research for institutional purpose. The data (in Bq / kg s.s.) are then related to the product dried at 40 ° C with forced air circulation. The Laboratory ARPA of Piacenza is accredited UNI ISO 17025 for these analyzes and it is the Laboratory of Excellence and Reference for our Region. The Laboratory Analytical is accredited for withdrawals of foods.

The book is a pocket manual calculated on the jackets of mushroom hunters. It collects plants typical of the area (6 species) and the most common mushrooms (75 species). Original is the common name in the local dialects and in various European languages of each species.

The dry fungus has been for Val Taro an economic, social and cultural. Economic because the income of rural households, and not only that, it was so supplemented with fresh money that often was used to buy furniture, stoves, the kits for daughters or to keep the studies of the sons in Piacenza or Parma. Social because the collection of the fungus, cleaning, cutting, drying, packaging (usually in white bags made from pillowcases beds nuptial) occupied the whole family from grandparents to grandchildren smaller. Cultural since the collection of the fungus involved the care and maintenance of the forest for the benefit of the environment and land protection.

The “Boletus” mushroom Group with white textured flesh (never tending towards the blue) has spread remarkably in the last few years, even if considerable attemps had been made in the past (B.fuscoruber for example). Beside the well known four Boletus belonging to Boletus Genus, Boletus (or Edules) section exposed in all mycology or wide spread texts ((Boletus aereus, Boletus aestivalis, Boletus edulis, Boletus pinophilus), we have other european species like B.persoonii Bon, B.venturi Bon, B.betulicola (Vasil’kov) Pilat & Dermek, B.mamorensis Redeuilh, …… There also exists north and south american species in particular very near the section in question. When it will be possible to dispose of the entire asian bibliography, complete with translation, we will surely have great news. B. violaceofuscus Chiu is one of these asian contributions to the Boletus section; unknown in Europe, it is common in the far east and not a stranger to the chinese dried mushrooms that are now flocking to the CEE markets.

The Authors, continuing a programme that already bought the Study Center to a first pubblication in the years 1986 – ’87 ’88 (E.Borghi) and in the years 1989- ’91-’92-’93 (E.Borghi & R.Sogni), are here examining the persistent radiations effects caused by the nuclear explosion that took place in Chernobyl, using as reference the superior mushrooms. They are proposing a more complete Sanitary Plan, parallel to a computerized research on the decay og the two types of Cesium, so to individualize and date with exacteness accidents done before the one in the ex-URSS. Taking in consideration specifically the food “mushroom” it is to emphasize how some Genus have the capacity to “accumulate” metals soluble in the soil and among others Cesium.