CONTRIBUTIONS OF WILD MUSHROOMS IN LIVELIHOOD MANAGEMENT OF ETHNIC TRIBES IN GURGURIPAL, WEST BENGAL, INDIA
AbstractThe folk population of Gurguripal has mycophilic inclination, and wild mushrooms play a significant role in sustaining their livelihood. Explorative survey work was undertaken to document the ethnomycological knowledge of wild mushrooms occurring in forest areas of Gurguripal. In the present study, 166 informants from 9 villages were interviewed and information was collected through semi-structured questionnaires and interaction based on local name, edibility, medicinal applicability, preparation, and mythological beliefs among native tribal communities of this region. Santal, Munda, and Sabar are dominating schedule tribes in consuming wild edible mushrooms as food or dietary supplement. A total of 23 predominant mushroom species belonging to 16 families were screened. Among them, 19 species were effectively used against different human ailments by the traditional healers. In particular, Termitomyces heimii, Pleurotus ostreatus, Auricularia auricula, and Ganoderma lucidum have shown higher use values and manifold nutraceutical potentials. An Amanitaceous mushroom, namely Amanita bisporigera has been reported the first time herein as edible and recently sold in local markets. The present study enlightens the exploration and conservation of traditional knowledge regarding the utilization of wild mushrooms for the welfare of mankind as well as underscores the need for further research to discover new bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical applications.
Article Information
11
3160-3171
1207
1311
English
IJPSR
K. Singha, S. Sahoo, A. Roy, A. Banerjee, K. C. Mondal, B. R. Pati and P. K. D. Mohapatra *
Department of Microbiology, Raiganj University, Raiganj, West Bengal, India.
pkdmvu@gmail.com
29 September 2019
30 December 2019
04 March 2020
10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.11(7).3160-71
01 July 2020