Effects of feeding diets supplemented with fungus myceliated grains on some production, health and oxidation traits of dairy ewes.

The beneficial properties of mushrooms bioactive compounds indicate their potential use as performance enhancing natural additive for livestock animals. This paper reports the preliminary results of a research on the effects of diets supplemented with fungus myceliated grains (FMG) to lactating ewes in terms of intestinal parasites control, milk production and cheese oxidative stability. During 8 weeks, 21 ewes were divided into 3 groups fed with hay ad libitum and 1.3 kg/day per head of one of 3 concentrates with 0, 10 or 20% of FMG. In front of analogous DM and nutrients intake, the ewes fed FMG at higher levels showed a reduction of intestinal parasite infection, a tendency to improve mi…

Aphyllophoraceous wood-inhabiting fungi on Quercus spp. in Italy

240 species representing 100 genera of aphyllophoraceous fungi growing on Quercus spp. in Italy are listed. Some species are considered rare or infrequent in Italy, e.g. Bulbillomyces farinosus, Dendrothele dryina, Fomitopsis iberica, F. spraguei, Hyphoderma incrustatum, Inonotus andersonii.

Ecology and distribution of hypogeous fungi from Sicily (southern Italy).

The distribution and ecology of 39 hypogeous and semi-hypogeous fungi is reported. Ten taxa, including the rare Fischerula macrospora, are new records for Sicily, while the presence of some species, previously reported by Oreste Mattirolo, is confirmed.

Pleurotus eryngii var. thapsiae var. nov. from Sicily

Field investigation in the Sicilian territory allowed the study of Pleurotus eryngii basidiomata growing in association with Thapsia garganica. The evaluation of morphological, ecological, distribution and isozyme, and PCR-RAPD data together with a revision of Bresadola's herbarium specimens kept in the Herbarium Botanische Staatssamlung (M) led to the description of a new variety, Pleurotus eryngii var. tahpsiae var. nov.

Boletus dupainii Boud.

Il Progetto "Check-list dei Funghi Italiani": dalla lista annotata alla Banca Dati.

Seeds vitality and fungal contamination in Abies nebrodensis

Seeds of Abies nebrodensis were subjected to laboratory tests aimed to detect fungal contaminants and to obtain xenobiotic-free seedlings, by the use of different surface sterilising agents. Moreover, hot water at 60°C was used to suppress any fungal microorganisms colonizing the inner tissues. Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus and Stemphylium vesicarium were the most frequent fungal contaminants. Non-contaminated seeds showed germination values ranging from 0 to 36.4% depending on the applied sterilization protocol. Further analyses will be carried out to establish the influence of these fungi on the seed germination process and their relationship with seedlings of A. nebrodensis.

Macrofungal diversity and ecology in two Mediterranean forest ecosystems

The macrofungal species richness and community assemblages in Italian native woodlands of oaks and Carpinus betulus and non-native woodlands of Pinus spp., Cupressus sempervirens and Eucalyptus camaldulensis were examined through the collection of basidiomata and ascomata over 1 year. The sampling in Collestrada (Umbria) and Pizzo Manolfo (Sicily) forests revealed 216 species of macrofungi. The results indicate differences in macromycete richness and diversity patterns between the two sites. The dominant tree species of the two sites were different; thus, the Collestrada forests had higher mycorrhizal species richness, while the Pizzo Manolfo forest had a higher relative number of saprotrop…

Hypogeous Fungi in Mediterranean Maquis, Arid and Semi-Arid Forests

Hypogeous fungi are common in arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean basin and, in particular, they are found in Italy, Spain, northern African countries (especially in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia), and in the Middle East. These fungi and, in particular, some species belonging to the genus Tuber and the desert truffles (Terfezia spp. and Tirmania spp.) form ascomata of considerable economic value. In this review, a panorama of hypogeous fungal diversity and information on their ecology in Mediterranean arid and semi-arid ecosystems have been reported; their economical importance and cultivation potential are also underlined.

Diversity of macrofungi and exploitation of edible mushroom resources in the National Park “Appennino Lucano, Val D'Agri, Lagonegrese” (Italy)

An investigation on the macrofungal diversity of the National Park “Appennino Lucano, Val D'Agri, Lagonegrese” (Basilicata, southern Italy) was carried out, together with an evaluation of wild edible mushrooms in agro-forest ecosystems and their possible exploitation as a new source of food and revenue in rural and under-developed areas of this region. An unpublished list of 249 mushroom taxa (229 Basidiomycota and 20 Ascomycota), mostly belonging to the genera Tricholoma, Tuber, Russula, Amanita, Boletus, Lactarius, Mycena, Agaricus, Clitocybe and Hygrophorus, growing in this important natural area is provided together with ecological characterization of the recorded specimens. Inonotus ob…