Medicinal wood decay fungi on large old oaks in the Madonie Mountains (Sicily)

Authors

  • Fortunato Cirlincione Department of Soil, Plant, and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”; Via G. Amendola n. 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
  • Giuseppe Venturella Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo; Viale delle Scienze Bldg. 5, 90128 Palermo, Italy
  • Maria Letizia Gargano Department of Soil, Plant, and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”; Via G. Amendola n. 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
  • Giulia Mirabile Ispettorato Provinciale dell'Agricoltura di Palermo
  • Gaetano Balenzano Department of Soil, Plant, and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”; Via G. Amendola n. 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
  • Raimondo Pardi Department of Soil, Plant, and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”; Via G. Amendola n. 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
  • Valeria Ferraro Department of Soil, Plant, and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”; Via G. Amendola n. 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2531-7342/19902

Keywords:

old trees, Quercus pubescens, wood-decay fungi, medicinal mushrooms, Sicily

Abstract

Periodic observations made on two 800-plus-year-old Quercus pubescens trees in the Madonie Mountains (Sicily) revealed the presence of two saprotroph and occasionally weak parasite fungi. The basiodiomycetes Laetiporus sulphureus and Pseudoinonotus dryadeus were identified by combining morphological and observation of microscopic characters with molecular analysis. The two mushrooms fall in the so-named category of “medicinal mushrooms” showing many properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, cytotoxic, hypoglycemic and anti-inflammatory. Actions are proposed to safeguard old trees and, simultaneously, preserve ex situ the wood-decay fungi of potential medicinal interest.

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Published

2024-11-04

How to Cite

Cirlincione, F., Venturella, G., Gargano, M. L., Mirabile, G., Balenzano, G., Pardi, R., & Ferraro, V. (2024). Medicinal wood decay fungi on large old oaks in the Madonie Mountains (Sicily). Italian Journal of Mycology, 53(1), 160–165. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2531-7342/19902

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