Species diversity and ecology of edible wild-mushroom at Ban Boonjam community forest, Phrae Province

Abstract

Edible wild-mushrooms are a source of food and income for many local Thai people living around natural forest area but little is known about the environment factors enhancing their productivity. The objectives of this study, therefore, were (1) to explore species diversity of edible wild - mushroom (2) to measure and analyze environmental factors enhancing mushroom fruiting body yield and (3) to study edible wild-mushroom ecology. For exploration, 10 permanent sampling plots (plot size 40 x 40 m2) were established in dry dipterocarp forest and mixed deciduous forest at Ban Boonjam community forest, Rongkwang District, Phrae Province. Mushrooms were surveyed and soils were sampled. Meteorological instrumentation (real - time record) has been set up on study area since April 2017. The results showed that 9 genus 16 species of edible wild - mushrooms were found. The dominant species were identified in genus Russula such as R. luteotacta, R. cyanoxantha, R. alboareolata. Seventy-five percent of edible mushroom species were classified as mycorrhizal mushroom. They were found in dry dipterocarp forest only where Shorea obtusa, S. siamensis and Dipterocarpus tuberculatus were mushroom’s hosted plants. All mushroom fruiting bodies were found in rainy season (a month after heavy rain; monthly rainfall greater than 90 mm.), soil moisture between 11.5-13.5 % and soil pH ranged from 5.0 to 7.0. This study adds to a better understanding of the natural production of edible wild-mushrooms in area and serves as baseline for the future years of studying these sites and could be applied for other areas in the future.