Truffle and truffle-like fungi from continental Africa
Africa is a diverse continent composed of many different terrestrial biomes, from the largest nonpolar desert in the world to equatorial forests and Southern African Fynbos. Biodiversity within the continent is high but much remains to be discovered. Sightings of hypogeous fruiting bodies of mycorrh...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Polish Botanical Society
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Acta Mycologica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://pbsociety.org.pl/journals/index.php/am/article/view/8502 |
| _version_ | 1818979035049361408 |
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| author | Paul William Thomas Waill Ahmed Elkhateeb Ghoson Daba |
| author_facet | Paul William Thomas Waill Ahmed Elkhateeb Ghoson Daba |
| author_sort | Paul William Thomas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Africa is a diverse continent composed of many different terrestrial biomes, from the largest nonpolar desert in the world to equatorial forests and Southern African Fynbos. Biodiversity within the continent is high but much remains to be discovered. Sightings of hypogeous fruiting bodies of mycorrhizal fungi (truffles and truffle-like fungi) have been recorded from the most northern countries of the continent to the most southern countries; they have been widely collected for culinary and medicinal purposes. In this review, we describe the most prominent species of mycorrhizal fungi forming hypogeal fruiting bodies, across six genera. The most ubiquitous of these are the “desert truffle” species and the most common genus of plants with which they associate are those of the genus Helianthemum. We also describe the key species of truffle and truffle-like fungi in continental Africa. Where information exists, we describe the ecology, medicinal properties, and ethnomycology of the identified fungi. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:53:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d6fc60a4cb8140bc82e431b4b8c69551 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2353-074X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:53:07Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | Polish Botanical Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Mycologica |
| spelling | doaj.art-d6fc60a4cb8140bc82e431b4b8c695512022-12-21T19:32:48ZengPolish Botanical SocietyActa Mycologica2353-074X2019-12-0154210.5586/am.11327040Truffle and truffle-like fungi from continental AfricaPaul William Thomas0Waill Ahmed Elkhateeb1Ghoson Daba2University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA; Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd, Lancashire, PR25 2SDChemistry of Natural and Microbial Products Department, Pharmaceutical Industries Researches Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12311 GizaChemistry of Natural and Microbial Products Department, Pharmaceutical Industries Researches Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12311 GizaAfrica is a diverse continent composed of many different terrestrial biomes, from the largest nonpolar desert in the world to equatorial forests and Southern African Fynbos. Biodiversity within the continent is high but much remains to be discovered. Sightings of hypogeous fruiting bodies of mycorrhizal fungi (truffles and truffle-like fungi) have been recorded from the most northern countries of the continent to the most southern countries; they have been widely collected for culinary and medicinal purposes. In this review, we describe the most prominent species of mycorrhizal fungi forming hypogeal fruiting bodies, across six genera. The most ubiquitous of these are the “desert truffle” species and the most common genus of plants with which they associate are those of the genus Helianthemum. We also describe the key species of truffle and truffle-like fungi in continental Africa. Where information exists, we describe the ecology, medicinal properties, and ethnomycology of the identified fungi.https://pbsociety.org.pl/journals/index.php/am/article/view/8502mycorrhizaethnomycologyecologyhypogeousdiversity |
| spellingShingle | Paul William Thomas Waill Ahmed Elkhateeb Ghoson Daba Truffle and truffle-like fungi from continental Africa Acta Mycologica mycorrhiza ethnomycology ecology hypogeous diversity |
| title | Truffle and truffle-like fungi from continental Africa |
| title_full | Truffle and truffle-like fungi from continental Africa |
| title_fullStr | Truffle and truffle-like fungi from continental Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Truffle and truffle-like fungi from continental Africa |
| title_short | Truffle and truffle-like fungi from continental Africa |
| title_sort | truffle and truffle like fungi from continental africa |
| topic | mycorrhiza ethnomycology ecology hypogeous diversity |
| url | https://pbsociety.org.pl/journals/index.php/am/article/view/8502 |
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