Abstract
Most edible ectomycorrhizal (ECM) mushrooms are currently harvested from nature and many of them are high-priced. Demand for the wild mushrooms as a culinary delicacy has stimulated research that aims to understand (1) the puzzled role that the ECM fungi play in the forest ecosystem, and (2) nutritional and other requirements for fruiting, which is highly variable. In this review, we focus on understanding of the ECM fungi mediated carbon and nitrogen movement between the symbiotic partners and on the interactions with other fungi in forest ecosystems. Thereby, we better understand the diverse nitrogen requirements for edible ECM fungal growth and mushroom fruiting. We attempt to provide a theoretical basis for the future research of edible ECM mushrooms in wild and controlled conditions.
Highlights
The main obstacle to the cultivation of edible ECM mushroom is their need to be associated with a host plant in plantations
An in-depth understanding of the nutritional requirements of ECM fungi and the role of ECM fungi in nutrient cycling, in ECM fungi mediating carbon and nitrogen movement within forest ecosystems will be summarized in this chapter
We focus on the nitrogen acquisition of edible ECM fungi for their mycelial culture and its effect on fruitbody formation
Summary
Forests play a crucial role in the global environment and economy. Forest-based wood products as well as non-wood forest products have offered remarkable resources and benefits for the well-being of people [1, 2]. In addition to benefits for forests, many ECM fungi produce edible mushrooms that are widely appreciated for their nutritional, medicinal, and gastronomic properties [11]. Wild mushrooms as non-wood forest products are getting more and more attention globally [12]. It would be convenient if these mushrooms could be cultivated. The main obstacle to the cultivation of edible ECM mushroom is their need to be associated with a host plant in plantations. An in-depth understanding of the nutritional requirements of ECM fungi and the role of ECM fungi in nutrient cycling, in ECM fungi mediating carbon and nitrogen movement within forest ecosystems will be summarized in this chapter. The nutritional requirements to successfully culture and cultivate ECM fungi will be discussed
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