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Mycology 2017
September 25-26, 2017
conferenceseries
.com
September 25-26, 2017 Chicago, USA
2
nd
International Conference on
Mycology & Mushrooms
Volume 3, Issue 2 (Suppl)
Med Mycol Open Access
ISSN: 2471-8521
Macrofungal ecology, diversity and ethnomycology in Ethiopia
Dawit Abate
Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
O
ur 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.
dawitabate0@gmail.comMed Mycol Open Access, 3:2, 2017
DOI: 10.21767/2471-8521-C1-003