An ethnobotanical study of mushroom germplasm and its domestication in the Bia biosphere reserve

Abstract

There are several species of edible and medicinal mushrooms, which remain unknown and unidentified in the forest reserves of Ghana. In the Bia Biosphere Reserve, there are twenty four(24) different species of mushrooms. The Bia Biosphere Reserve is situated in the Juabeso-Bia district in the north-western part of the Western region. The reserve covers an area of 355.62 sq. Ian. It is divided into two namely: the National Park, which represents the core zone covering an area of 77.7 sq. km and the resource reserve, covering an area of 277.92 sq. km. The twenty-four mushroom species are made up of eighteen (18) edible and six (6) medicinal mushrooms. Some of the identified varieties are the Termite mushroom (Termitomyces spp), Oil-palm mushroom (Volveriella spp), the Ink cap mushroom (Coprinus micaceus), Psathyrella, Cantharellus aurantiacus, Mycena jlarescens, Schizophyllum commune, Woodear mushroom (Auricularia auricula) and Button mushroom (Agaricus spp.), which belong to the order Agaricales, Cantharellales Tricholomatales, Schizophyllales and Auriculariales. The medicinal mushrooms are Schizophyllum commune, Pleurotus tuber-regium, Auricularia auricula, Ganoderma lucidum, Clavatia sp. and Daldina concentrica, which belong to the order Schizophyllales, Poriales, Auriculariales, Agaricales, Lycoperdales, and Xylariales. Eleven other mushrooms were picked, which included Lactarius, Conolopsis and Clitocybe spp., among others. At least five people were interviewed from each of the 14 communities. The conununities were Abosi, Adjoafoa, Aberewakrom, Benkasa, Debiso, Henneh, Kumkunso, Kwamebikrom, Kwame Tawiakrom, New Abesirn, New Wen chi, Nkwanta, Pitokro~ Teacherkrom and Osonokrom. 54.8% of the respondents were males with the majority (24.6%) being within the age group of 41-50 years. The interviews revealed that a total of 19 species of mushrooms were known/available to the respondents in the communities, and most of these mushrooms were found in the reserve. These mushrooms were picked between February and November. The three most preferred species in the communities were Volvariella volvacea (85.7%) in twelve communities, Termitomyces (50%) in seven communities, and Coprinus micaceus (21.4%) in three communities. Some of the reasons for which they preferred these mushrooms were for their sweet taste, that they could be used in place of meat/fish, their aesthetic appeal, their nutritional value, their medicinal value, and also for their long storage period. Most of the mushrooms were picked on dead trees (49-64%), forest land (soil) (32-48%) and on anthills (5-11%). The dead trees included Ceiba pentandra (39.3%), Elaeis guineensis (25%) and Triplochiton scleroxylon (21.4%). The medicinal uses for some of the mushrooms included Pleurotus tuber-regiom for the treatment of asthma and for fattening underweight children, Coprinus micaceus - as a purgative for both children and adults, Schzophyllum commune for the treatment of infections, used as a blood tonic and also to aid delivery in pregnant women, and Daldina concentrica for the treatment of hernia. Other relevant information gathered indicated that Cantharellus aurantiacus generates a lot of laughter/happiness when consumed. The proximate and mineral composition of four selected mushrooms picked from the reserve were comparable to those reported by most authors. Coprinus micaceus, however, recorded a protein content of 23.6% per 100g of sample, which is higher than that of the oyster mushroom currently produced in the country. Although Coprinus has a high protein content its sandy nature affected its mouthfeel. On the domestication trials, four (4) mushrooms were considered - two medicinal mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum and Daldina concentricai and two edible ones (Coprinus micaceus and Volvariella bombycinaj. Some of the physiological factors considered included media, pH and temperature variations, which greatly affected the mycelia growth of the mushrooms. Potato dextrose agar was found to be the best media for the mycelia growth of Volvariella bombycina and Daldina concentrica, whilst malt extract and cassava dextrose agar were appropriate for Coprinus micaceus and Ganoderma lucidum after five (5) days of incubation. Ganoderma lucidum and Coprinus micaceus were found to grow well in all the pH range tested i.e. pH 4-8, but better in a weak acidic environment of pH 4-6. Volvariella bombycina grew best in pH 5.5 - 8.0 whilst Daldina concentrica, on the other hand, showed relatively good growth in all the pH range studied. The best temperature for the optimum mycelia growth was 28 ± 2°C for Gonoderma lucidum, Coprinus micaceus and Daldina concentrica, whilst 35°C was the optimum for mycelia growth of Volvariella bombycina. The spawn run period for Ganoderma lucidium varied from substrate to substrate with banana leaves being the best with a spawn run period of 16 days and 40 days for cotton waste. Within the cropping period Ganoderma lucidium flushed twice off the sawdust with a total weight of 21 kg. In the case of Coprinus micaceus, the mycelia growth on the substrate (sawdust of Triplochiton scleroxylon, banana leaves, com husk and cotton waste) was just running growth. The spawn run period ranged between 17 to 21 days. Total fresh mushroom yield of Volvariella sp. on cotton waste was 446.5g over a one month period