Radiocaesium Contamination of Mushrooms at High- and Low-Level Chernobyl Exposure Sites and Its Consequences for Public Health

We compare the specific activities of 137Cs and 40K in stipes and caps of three different common mushroom species (Xerocomus badius, Russula ochroleuca and Armillariella mellea) measured at the Czech Chernobyl hot spot in the Opava area (Silesia) and at a low-exposed site at the Beskydy mountains in 2011. The highest values of 137Cs were found in caps of Xerocomus badius and Russula ochroleuca in the Opava area (11.8 and 8.77 kBq/kg, respectively). The source of 137Cs was verified by the measurement of the 134Cs/137Cs ratio. Based on our results, we estimate an effective dose per year due to radiocaesium intake in the two investigated areas for Xerocomus badius, one of the most popular edible mushrooms in the Czech Republic. In 2011, the effective dose reached the maximum value of 0.102 mSv in the Opava area and 0.004 mSv at the low-exposed site at the Beskydy mountains. Therefore, it does not represent a significant risk for public health.

Bioactivity and Control Efficacy of the Novel Antibiotic Tetramycin against Various Kiwifruit Diseases

Tetramycin, a novel polyene agriculture antibiotic, has excellent antimicrobial activity against many plant pathogens. In this study, the antimicrobial activities of tetramycin and conventional antibiotics on eight common pathogens and their field control efficacies against four serious diseases in kiwifruit were investigated. The results show that 0.3% tetramycin aqueous solutions (AS) exhibited the superior antibacterial and antifungal activity against Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, Pseudomonas fulva, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Botryosphaeriadothidea, Phomopsis sp., Alternaria tenuissima, Armillariella mellea and Phytophthora cactorum of kiwifruit pathogens with EC50 values of 1.21, 1.24, 0.72, 0.14, 0.09, 0.16, 0.06 and 0.17 mg kg−1, respectively. These EC50 values of tetramycin were much higher than those of conventional kasugamycin, zhongshengmycin or polyoxin. Meanwhile, 0.3% tetramycin AS possessed the good field control efficacies for canker, soft rot, blossom blight and brown spot disease of kiwifruit with 74.45, 83.55, 84.74 and 89.62%. Moreover, 0.3% tetramycin AS application notably increased fruit resistance substances contents, activated fruit superoxide dismutase and polyphenoloxidase activities, as well as remarkably enhanced fruit growth, improved fruit quality and storability. This study highlights that tetramycin can be used as a preferred alternative to conventional antibiotics in kiwifruit production.

Population density of some species of basidiomycetes under conditions of radioactive contamination and pathogen damage in forest ecosystems

The radiologically, ecologically and biologically safe mushroom raw materials are necessary to create some environmentally friendly bioorganic stimulators of plant growth and development and many other products. Therefore, we researched the population density of Ganoderma lucidum (Curt.: Fr.) P. Karst., Agaricus bisporus (J.E.Lange) Imbach, Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P.Kumm, Armillariella mellea (Vah1. ex Fr.) Karst., whitch are often used to create plant growth stimulants, in their natural habitat under conditions of radioactive contamination and pathogen damage. The study was conducted in six biogeocenoses: Shatsk National Natural Park (Volyn Oblast, Ukraine), Regional Landscape Park «Islands of Izmail» (Odessa Oblast, Ukraine), around the urban-type settlement of Kornyn (Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine), around the village of Korolivka (Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine), around the village of Lysivka (Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine), around the city of Vyshhorod (Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine). Pathogens were identified by standard mycological, bacteriological and virological methods. Radiocesium contamination density of soil, as a parameter of radioactive contamination, was determined by spectrophotometric method. The highest population density of Ganoderma lucidum was in Regional Landscape Park «Islands of Izmail». In this biogeocenosis, G. lucidum was almost not affected by pathogens, and radiocesium contamination density of soil was 18.5 kBq/m2. Agaricus bisporus and Armillariella mellea grew in biotopes with high radiocesium contamination density of soil. For example, in forest ecosystems around the city of Vyshhorod, where the average radiocesium contamination density of soil was 111.0 kBq/m2, population density of A. mellea was 0,39 fruit bodies per m2. At the same time, 15% of A. mellea in this biogeocenosis were affected by various pathogens. Thus, the use of wild mushrooms as raw materials should be preceded by testing for biological and radiological contamination.

ANALYSING THE GROWTH CONDITION OF HAZEL MUSHROOM BASE ON THE DATE OF LANDSAT 8 AND THE PLATFORM OF ENVI

Armillariella mellea mainly distributes in Changbai Mountain forest area, which is one of the few edible fungi that can be cultured artificially. It contains a variety of essential amino acids and vitamins for human body. Frequent consumption can strengthen the body immunity. It is of great significance to analyze the growth environment of Armillariella mellea by remote sensing technology for its growth prediction and artificial cultivation research. Based on ENVI software and Landsat 8 image, the surface temperature and soil moisture in Xiao Hinggan Mountains in August 2014 were retrieved by the method of atmospheric correction and TVDI, and the optimum growth environment of Armillariella mellea was analyzed. The results are as follows: 1) The optimum growth temperature of Armillariella mellea is 25–30 °C, and the soil moisture condition is 0.4–0.6. The Armillariella mellea mainly distributes in the north-central part of the study area. Combined with other growth environment information, the study area is generally suitable for the growth of Armillariella mellea; 2) we found the Armillariella mellea around the area of 83 samples of 100 samples which were choose to analyse. The accuracy is higher; 3) It is feasible to obtain the optimum growth environment of Hazelnut mushroom by remote sensing technology.

Etnomicología y venta de hongos en un mercado del Noroeste del estado de Puebla, México

Antecedentes: La recolección de hongos silvestres en la sierra norte del estado de Puebla se remonta a los pueblos prehispánicos. Los actores sociales involucrados en su recolección y comercialización implica comprender la relación entre el ser humano y los hongos útiles.Objetivo: Registrar las especies de hongos silvestres comercializadas y el papel social que desempeñan los miembros de las familias que los recolectan.Métodos: Se aplicó de junio de 2016 a 2017 un cuestionario etnomicológico a 38 comerciantes de hongos y entrevistas abiertas a colaboradores claves en el mercado principal de Zaragoza, PueblaResultados y conclusiones: Se presenta un listado de 21 especies de macromicetos silvestres de las cuales cinco son las más vendidas:Russula brevipes; Ampulloclitocybe clavipes; Armillariella mellea; Boletus edulis y Lactarius indigo; quienes las comercializan son en un 92.1% del sexo femenino. La experiencia mostrada por las mujeres en el uso, manejo y comercialización de los macromicetos silvestres es reproducida de generación en generación a través de la recolección colectiva con varios miembros de sus familias.

Elemental profile of edible mushrooms from a forest near a major Romanian city

We determined the elemental profile of 16 edible mushroom species from the Făget Forest, near Cluj-Napoca, and of 12 species from the Apuseni Mountains. One-way ANOVA showed no difference in the elemental content of mushrooms when the two regions were compared. Some species accumulated high amounts of trace elements, i.e. Boletus edulis (Ag, S, Zn), Macrolepiota procera (Cu), Lactarius volemus (Co), Russula emetica (Mn), Armillariella mellea, and Chantarellus cibarius (Cr). The cadmium content was the highest in the case of Leccinum scabrum and Boletus edulis. These two species presented elevated risk levels for all age-groups when they are consumed regularly.

Mushrooms as a source of substances with antiviral activity

Water extracts the fructifications of 56 species of fungi were examined as a source of antiviral substances with activity against VS and vaccinia viruses. Extracts from 16 fungal species exhibited the antiviral activity. Water extracts from <i>Boletus edulis</i> active against vaccinia virus and extract from <i>Armillariella mellea</i> active against VS virus are particularly worth nothing. Both of them in applied concentrations were not toxic in chick embryo fibroblasts tissue culture.

Determination of Fe and Zn Accumulation in Leafy Vegetables and Mushrooms Using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Technique

The aim of this study was to determine the Fe and Zn concentrations in some leafy vegetables (cabbage, spinach, celery and lettuce) and in their growing soil collected from sites with different industrial activity; in fruiting body of wild edible mushrooms (Armillariella mellea) and in their substrate (soil) collected at different distances by a metal smelter, by using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique. A quantitative evaluation of the relationship of Fe and Zn uptake by the vegetables and mushrooms from soil was made by calculating the coefficient accumulation Ka. The results reveal that lettuce is a accumulator of Fe and Armillariella mellea is a accumulator of Zn.