1,721,162 research outputs found

    The genus Tamarix (Tamaricaceae) in Apulia (southern Italy)

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    This survey is part of the floristic exploration activities on the Italian territory related to the identification of spontaneous and cultivated plants of the genus Tamarix L. A list of tamarisks from Apulia (southern Italy) is here reported together with ecological and distributive data. On the whole, 7 species and 1 variety were recorded in the Apulian region. T. arborea var. arborea is the species with the widest distribution in the Apulian territory. The presence of T. canariensis, T. dalmatica and T. gallica, previously indicated for Apulia by other authors, is currently not confirmed

    Coprinopsis strossmayeri agg. infrequent but easy to identify

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    A number of fungal species appear to be absent from the checklists of several countries since they are characterized by infrequency in their fructification. Different explanations have been given for this behaviour and among these the most plausible is linked to weather variations that induce the spores to germinate or mycelium to produce fruitbodies only in certain years. This hypothesis has already been illustrated for some species such as Capnobotrys dingleyae S. Hughes, Entoloma caeruleum (P.D. Orton) Noordel., E. plebeioides (Schulzer) Noordel. Ileodictyon gracile Berk., Terfezia olbiensis Tul. & C. Tul. and Buchwaldoboletus lignicola (Kallenb.) Pilát. Although the role of fungi in ecosystems is well recognized, there have been comparatively few discussions on their function in urban systems. A high number of tropical and subtropical trees are cultivated along the streets and in the public and private gardens of Italian towns and a number of fungi are reported from their trunks and stumps. This is exactly the case with Coprinopsis strossmayeri (Schulzer) Redhead, Vilgalys & Moncalvo: infrequent but easy to identify, which was observed, in autumn 2019, for the first time in Sicily

    The 12th International Medicinal Mushrooms Conference (IMMC12), September 24–27, 2024, Bari, Italy

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    In September 2024, 230 delegates from 40 different countries (Fig. 1) gathered at The Nicolaus Hotel Bari - HO Collection (Bari, Italy), for the 12th International Medicinal Mushrooms Conference (IMMC12), the second to be held in Italy after the Palermo Conference in 2017. The theme of the conference was “medicinal mushrooms: the bet for the future of humanity.” IMMC12 participants had the opportunity to discuss and share scientific innovations in the medicinal mushroom sector and to become aware of current research results

    Araucaria columnaris (Araucariaceae) casual alien in Sicily

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    The first case of spontaneous regeneration of Araucaria columnaris in Europe is reported. Data are given on the taxon and on the Sicilian site where A. columnaris - native to New Caledonia (Australia) - tends to spread autonomously

    Mycotheca of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms at Herbarium SAF as a Potential Source of Nutraceuticals and Cultivated Mushrooms

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    Basidiomycetes strains (n = 39) belonging to 9 genera in 8 families are kept in the mycotheca of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences at the University of Palermo (Palermo, Italy). All of the strains are medicinal mushrooms, and some are of great commercial and nutraceutical interest

    Fungi in archaeological areas

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    The most renowned examples of the prehistoric use of mushrooms are represented by the stone paintings from Saharan aboriginal tribes of North Africa (ca. 9000 BC.) and the rock paintings of religious rituals in Spain (ca. 6000 years ago). The symbols, statues and paintings created by the Mayas and the Aztecs indicate the consumption of psilocybin mushrooms, especially during religious rituals, as a way to communicate with deities. Other tribes originating in Central America were also involved in magic mushrooms use for similar reasons. In northeastern Greece, western Turkey, and Bulgaria, in the regions known in antiquity as Macedonia, Anatolia, and Thrace, numerous megalithic natural rock formations resemble mushrooms. The monuments resembling mushrooms are sometimes ornamented with carvings or paintings, or associated with folkloric motifs that indicate that the fungi were used as hallucinogenic. In southern India, megalithic monuments (kuda-kallu) of the archaeological site of Aryannoor in Kerala, belonging to the Iron Age, resemble to parasol mushrooms. This representation has been recently taken up by the Berlin architect Jürgen Mayer for the construction of the Metropol Parasol in Seville (Spain). Anthracological researches pointed out the presence of Basidiomycetes, Ascomycetes, and Deuteromycetes (Imperfect fungi) which attack both Angiosperms and Gymnosperms in the remains of wood charcoals from archaeological excavations and natural deposits. More recently, the soil bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities inhabiting archaeological humanimpacted layers at Monte Iato settlement in Sicily has been characterized. The use of mushrooms in human diets and in the treatment of diseases are also discussed in an archaeological context. Finally, data on the presence of fungi in the Archaelogical Park of Selinunte are here provided

    The Herbarium SAF fungal culture collection as a potential source of nutraceuticals and cultivated mushrooms

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    Thirty-nine strains of Basidiomycetes belonging to 9 genera of 8 families are kept in the Mycotheca of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences of the University of Palermo (Italy). All the isolates are related to medicinal mushrooms and some of them are of great commercial and nutraceutical interest

    Conservazione ex situ, valorizzazione ed uso sostenibile di Pleurotus nebrodensis, specie rara, endemica della Sicilia

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    Pleurotus nebrodensis (Inzenga) Quél. è uno dei rari esempi di fungo endemico in Italia ed a livello europeo. Studi precedenti hanno chiarito la tassonomia di questo taxon e le caratteristiche del suo habitat naturale (1,2). Per la salvaguardia della specie, inserita nella categoria EN (Endangered) della Red List of Threatened Species della International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) e tra le TOP 50 Mediterranean Island Plants, sono state proposte sin dal 2000 azioni di conservazione in situ ed ex situ. Tali azioni si inquadrano anche tra le recenti attività dello SPOKE 3 “From alpha-diversity to citizen science” del Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza e più precisamente nella Attività 3.2 “Assess and monitor endangered species/communities, as a consequence of climate change and anthropogenic perturbances”. In aggiunta, nel 2023, è stato finanziato dalla Regione Sicilia, nell’ambito del PSR Sicilia 2014-2024, un progetto che prevede la coltivazione di P. nebrodensis per scopi alimentari, medicinali e fitoiatrici. Tale progetto è finalizzato alla coltivazione ex situ del raro fungo in ambiente protetto. A tutt’oggi, infatti, questo fungo è presente soltanto in natura in ridotte quantità e la fruttificazione è in progressivo declino a causa dell’aumento del numero dei cercatori di funghi e delle mutevoli condizioni climatiche che stanno compromettendo seriamente la conservazione della specie. Al progetto partecipano le Università di Palermo e di Bari “Aldo Moro”, Centri di Ricerca (CORIBIA, CORERAS) e 7 aziende agricole. Oltre al partenariato diretto, il progetto sarà sostenuto da partner esterni quali il GAL ISC Madonie, ristoranti e GDO

    Microbial Safety of Black Summer Truffle Collected from Sicily and Umbria Regions, Italy

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    Background: Tuber aestivum Vittad., known as black summer truffle, represents high-value food especially used as garnishment in nouvelle cuisine. The aim of this study was to investigate on the viable microbial populations associated with T. aestivum ascomata collected in different sites of Sicily and one locality of Umbria (Italy). Methods: The ripe ascomata of black summer truffles were collected from Central Italy. Cell densities of spoilage bacteria, fecal indicators, potential pathogens, yeasts, and molds were analyzed. Statistical analysis was conducted with XLSTAT software. Results: The microbiological counts of truffles ranged between 6.00 and 9.63 log Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/g for total mesophilic count and between 6.18 and 8.55 log CFU/g for total psychrotrophic count; pseudomonads were in the range 6.98-9.28 log CFU/g. Listeria spp. and coagulase-positive streptococci detected in no samples. Coagulasenegative streptococci were found in some samples with 2.11-4.76 log CFU/g levels. Yeasts and filamentous fungi were detected at consistent levels of 3.60-7.81 log CFU/g. Significant differences (p<0.01) were found between samples and also for all microbial groups. Conclusion: This study evidenced that the common brushing procedure applied for preparation of truffles is not sufficient to eliminate microbial risks for consumers. The application of an efficient decontamination treatment is strongly suggested before consumption of fresh truffles
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