Characterization of chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) and pine mushrooms (Tricholoma magnivelare) in northern Saskatchewan

Abstract

Baseline data on the boreal jack pine associated chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius Fr.) and pine mushrooms (Tricholoma magnivelare (Peck) Redhead) in the Boreal Plain Ecozone of Saskatchewan were collected in five ecosites of productive mushroom areas. It investigated hourly weather parameters correlated with daily purchase volumes over 4 yrs; yield data over 5 yrs; and varying age, tree density, and species for presence of mushrooms in over 100 stands. All plots fell within the lichen jack pine (jP) ecosite with an overstory entirely of jack pine. The understory was dominated by reindeer lichen, bearberry, and blueberry. Plots were well- to rapidly drained, subxeric to submesic, with low nutrient regime. Both chanterelle and pine mushrooms were present in jack pine stands of < 20 yrs, with greatest occurrence in pure jack pine stands of 41–60 yrs in moderately open A-B canopy density. Weekly purchase data correlated with environmental parameters. Growing degree days (GDD) (base temperature 5 °C) + soil temperature (minimum 500 ± 70 GDD), + either soil moisture or precipitation (cumulative 50–100 mm) provided the highest regression value with chanterelle yield 6–13 wks prior to first appearance. The 5-yr total chanterelle yield from this region averaged 7100 kg·yr−1. Chanterelle cap diameter was a good predictor of fresh weight and proxy for yield. Pine mushroom was < 10% of chanterelle yield, averaging 1.72 kg·ha−1 over 4 yrs based on 5 days picking. With future climate predictions of warmer and moister conditions, timing of fruiting body appearance is anticipated to advance.