Abstract
In Uganda, wild mushrooms are mainly collected during the rainy season and valued as a traditionally nutritious food by the rural poor. However, their nutritional attributes have not been adequately studied and documented. Comparative nutrient composition of five wild edible mushroom species was determined, namely: P. tenucuilus, T. tyleranus, T. clypeatus, V. speciosa and T. microcarpus of sub-humid and humid agro-ecological zones. Standard analytical techniques following the AOAC were used for proximate and mineral contents determinations. Vitamins determination followed the established standard protocols of the laboratories where the analyses were conducted. Combined use of nutrient concentration and scores were used to compare the level of the contents in the mushroom species. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in nutrient values were demonstrated between and among the mushroom species obtained from the two agro-ecological zones. On dry weight basis, all proximate compositions were high in mushroom species obtained from the humid zone with exception of the total carbohydrates and energy values. Irrespective of the source of the mushrooms, significant amounts were demonstrated in protein, dry matter, ash and total carbohydrates ranging between 11.56–27.42%, 82.34–99.76%, 10.79–16.87%, and 37.12–61.05%, respectively. In comparison with recommended dietary daily intakes, the K, P, Se, Mn, Cu and Fe contents were relatively high with low Ca, Mg, Zn and Na. Thiamin, folic acid, vitamin C, and niacin levels were high but below the recommended FAO references. Considering mushrooms from different agro-ecological zones, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in all mushroom species in P except in T. clypeatus, T. tyleranus, T. microcarpus and T. clypeatus in potassium, T. clypeatus and T. microcarpus in Mg. Mushrooms from humid agro-ecological zones had relatively high overall mineral and vitamin supply potential. In conclusion, consumption of these mushrooms should be encouraged in supplementation of the staple food of the poor people. Hence, solving malnutrition problems in children, pregnant mothers, and the immune compromised patients such as the HIV/AIDs.
Highlights
Over 2,500 different mushrooms grow in the wild around the world and their nutritional potential has long been overshadowed by the well known cultivated mushrooms such as Lentinus edodes, Pleurotus species and Agaricus bisporus
A high biodiversity of Nakalembe et al SpringerPlus (2015) 4:433 wild mushroom biota is found throughout the tropics, sub-Saharan Africa, with about 300 edible mushroom species (Harkonen et al 1995; Rammeloo and Walleyn 1993)
Most of these wild mushrooms are reportedly used for food, medicine, cultural festivals and to some extent for income generation (Nakalembe et al 2009)
Summary
Over 2,500 different mushrooms grow in the wild around the world and their nutritional potential has long been overshadowed by the well known cultivated mushrooms such as Lentinus edodes, Pleurotus species and Agaricus bisporus. A high biodiversity of Nakalembe et al SpringerPlus (2015) 4:433 wild mushroom biota is found throughout the tropics, sub-Saharan Africa, with about 300 edible mushroom species (Harkonen et al 1995; Rammeloo and Walleyn 1993) Many of these fungi belong to the genus Termitomyces, with a symbiotic relationship with termites (Heim 1958). In Uganda, several mushroom species such as Armillaria mellea, Lentinus prolifer, Termitomyces aurantiacus, Termitomyces eurrhizus and Termitomyces microcarpus among many others grow in most parts of the country (Katende et al 1999; Nakalembe et al 2009) Most of these wild mushrooms are reportedly used for food, medicine, cultural festivals and to some extent for income generation (Nakalembe et al 2009).
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