Mushroom Diversity Uncovered at Maseno University, Siriba Campus, Kenya
Abstract
Mushrooms diversity study is not a new phenomenon, different workers in different parts of the world have always undertaken such studies to better understand the macro fungi flora that occur in those areas. The local non-edible and edible wild mushrooms occurrence, distribution and diversity in Western Kenya and East Africa in general have not been fully understood even though they are useful to urban and rural communities living in this region. Mushrooms are useful to humans as; Source of medicine, Environmental balance, food and ornamentals. Before this study, no study had been conducted in Maseno University Siriba campus, and forest ecosystem to show the existing mushroom flora. This study was therefore initiated to identify and record the available mushroom flora. Maseno university area is located within the geographical coordinates 0°0′ 17.36″ S, 34°36′ 1.62″ E at an altitude of 1503 meters above sea level. The terrain where the collection was made was mainly of built up campus and sloppy forest vegetation, the mean temperature during the collection period was between 19°C and 27°C. Standard sampling was used and the area of study divided into 2 portions/sites. Mushrooms were collected on their vegetative stages and sorted accordingly. The location and substrate on which mushrooms grew were also recorded and photos using a digital camera kept as permanent records. All the species collected were identified based on their morphological characteristics. When identification was complete, Daedalia quercina, Formitopsis gibba, Poliporous cinnabarinus, Xerula radicata, Amanita rannesces, Lycoperdon echinatum, Laccaria bicolor, Clitocybe gibba, Suillus luteu and Daedalia unicolor were the species found to be resident at the Maseno University Siriba campus and the surrounding ecosystem.
Introduction
Mushrooms diversity study is not a new phenomenon, different workers in different parts of the world have always undertaken such studies to better understand the macro fungi flora that occur in those areas (Praveen et al, 2014, Phongeun et al 2010, Brown et al, 2006). Yet the local non-edible and edible wild mushrooms occurrence, distribution and diversity in Western Kenya and East Africa in general have not yet been fully documented and understood even though they are consumed as food and used for medicinal aspects by urban and rural communities living in this region.
Maseno University, Siriba campus is located in an area surrounded by an ecosystem with adequate rain fall and a rich plant diversity leading to the occurrence of organic rich soils. Maseno is found at the geographical coordinates of 0°0′ 17.36″ S, 34°36′ 1.62″ E and an altitude of 1503 meters above sea level. The surrounding terrain is mainly made up of a forest vegetation that is sloppy, a market center in a small town with residential zones and a built up University campus. The general area has a warm tropical temperature with an average ranging between 19°C and 27°C.Â
Maseno a small town with a population of 14,000, located in Western Kenya has a poor or no organized liquid and solid waste disposal services provided by either the university or the Kisumu county government was a suitable area for this study because the poorly disposed organic substrates that litter the surrounding environment creating a suitable habitat onto which mushrooms and other saprophytic members of the fungi kingdom are able to grow profusely.Â
Mushrooms or gill fungi have been defined as a macro-fungus with a distinctive fruiting body, which can be hypogenous or epigeous, large enough to be seen with the naked eye and to be picked by hand (Chang, 1989).
They are classified in the division Basidiomycota of the fungi kingdom because their fruiting body form an umbrella shaped basidiocarp with gills onto which are found basidia (Alexopoulos et al., 1996). They mostly grow in terrestrial environments. A large majority is saprophytic but there are a few parasitic types known whose hosts range from algae to a wide variety of angiosperms (Alexopoulos et al., 1996). Their plant body consists of multicellular septate hyphae that may be branched and filamentous. Most mushroom species grow in a span of 14-21 days and to maturity (Alexopoulos et al., 1996).
Source : Mushroom Diversity Uncovered at Maseno University, Siriba Campus, Kenya | InformativeBD
