Medical Mycology: Open Access

Macrofungal ecology, diversity and ethnomycology in Ethiopia

2^nd International Conference on Mycology & Mushrooms
September 25-26, 2017 Chicago, USA

Dawit Abate

Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Med Mycol Open Access

DOI: 10.21767/2471-8521-C1-003

Abstract

Our knowledge of macrofungal diversity in Ethiopia is very limited. The type of vegetation, ecological and habitat variation in an area determines species richness and composition of macrofungi. Our recent mycological study undertaken in three ecologically and geographically different sites, Welmera, Menge and Kaffa in Ethiopia has shown interesting variations in macrofungal flora. Mushroom diversity on the central highlands is dominated by species of Agaricus, diverse and common on highland fields, pastures and forested areas. Mushrooms associated with termites, Termitomyces spp, are diverse in the low altitude savanna woodland where macrotermitinae termites are common and diverse. Other examples of macrofungal diversity and specificity on the highland and lowland ecosystems have been documented. A high diversity of Lentinus spp is found on Cordia Africana wood and Pyrofomes demidoffi as a specific pathogen of Juniperus procera are worth mentioning. Ectomycorrhizal mushrooms found in exotic plantations (Eucalyptus, Pinus and Cupressus) such as species of Laccaria and Suillus are absent in indigenous forests. Mushrooms are, in general, known to have food and medicine value to local people in many cultures including in Ethiopia. Unlike the central highlands, however, ethnic groups in southwest Ethiopia have a well developed traditional knowledge and habit of using mushrooms for food and medicine. In this region, wild mushrooms are a free source of food during the rainy season, a period of grain scarcity. Deforestation and habitat destruction are the main factors for decreasing variety and abundance of macrofungi in Ethiopia. The need to study macrofungal flora of Ethiopia and conserve the genetic resources is highly recommended.