Dorothy FarrarMushrooms
Fungi (lat. fungi ) are chlorophyll-free, lower organisms with cell walls made of chitin. In addition to plants and animals, they form an independent, very species-rich and diverse group of organisms. In addition to edible mushrooms and toadstools, they also include microscopically small unicellular and multicellular fungi.
General
There are over 100,000 different types of mushrooms. Mushrooms can be colored in many different ways. Among other things, they also have green pigments, which, however, are not caused by the chlorophyll as in plants.
Fungi do not have chlorophyll, nor do they have any other photosynthetic pigments, so they cannot feed themselves autotrophically (ie from inorganic, low-energy substances) like plants do. They only eat organic, energy-rich food, and consequently they eat heterotrophically.
Some types of fungi absorb the remains of dead organisms (saprophytes), others live as parasites, while other fungi form a special community with other types of organisms for mutual benefit – in symbiosis. Lichens are a special form of symbiotic organization between certain fungi and algae.
Classification of fungi (mushroom species)
The kingdom of mushrooms is divided into different departments:
- Scourge fungi (Chytridiomycota) , including slime molds and algae fungi, they live mainly in water, their affiliation to the kingdom of fungi is based on the cell wall substance chitin, on molecular genetic findings and the enzyme equipment.
- Yoke fungi (Zygomycota) , this includes the molds, they are often found on organic waste, excrement and old food.
- Ascomycota , mostly unicellular yeast fungi, as well as species with large, multicellular fruiting bodies such as morels and truffles.
Toadstool or edible mushroom – tips for mushroom pickers
Toadstool or Edible Mushroom? Especially in autumn, many people die of mushroom poisoning and that in an enlightened time. What are the causes of these dangerous poisonings? How to avoid mushroom poisoning? We will inform you about the most important rules when collecting mushrooms.
Little mycology
In most cases, mushroom pickers, either out of ignorance or carelessness, confuse edible mushrooms with poisonous mushrooms, eg the meadow mushroom with the death cap mushroom. However, these two species are easily distinguishable when mature.
The lamellae of the meadow mushroom are initially pink and later turn dark brown to black. In the death cap mushroom, on the other hand, they remain white. In addition, the stalks of this mushroom are bulbous at the base and are covered in a tall, membranous sheath. Meadow mushrooms do not have this thickening.
Pearl mushrooms and panther mushrooms are also often confused with one another. Consumption of the panther mushroom leads to severe symptoms of poisoning. But here, too, there are clear distinguishing features. In the panther mushroom, the “flesh” of the stalk is white, and its ring is narrow, flabby, and without longitudinal stripes.
In contrast, the stem of the pearl mushroom is pink and its ring appears broad, protruding and with clearly recognizable longitudinal furrows. There is further confusion between the porcini mushroom and its poisonous double, the satanic mushroom (both tubular mushrooms). This differs from the porcini mushroom by the reddish stalk and the red tube openings.
Hints and tips for mushroom pickers
There are no universally valid, safe identifiers for distinguishing between poisonous and edible mushrooms. Collectors should therefore only limit themselves to species that they know for sure. It is also utter nonsense to think that silver spoons only turn dark in poisonous mushroom dishes. This can occur with all mushroom dishes. Instructions for collecting and subsequent use of mushrooms (fruiting bodies).
- You should only collect mushrooms that you really know!
- Only young mushrooms should be collected that have not yet been eaten by maggots! Do not knock over or step on old and unknown mushrooms – just leave them where they are!
- Never pick mushrooms that have white stalks, rings and bulbs and white fins!
- Do not collect mushrooms with a reddish stem and red tubes on the underside of the hat!
- Always transport collected mushrooms in air-permeable containers (baskets or boxes), otherwise they spoil easily (never use plastic bags or bags)!
- Mushrooms should be cleaned on the same day and processed no later than the following day. During this period they must be stored in a dry, cool and open place.
- Carefully unscrew the mushroom so that all characteristics are preserved and the mycelium is not destroyed!
- If signs of nausea or pain appear after eating the mushroom dish, empty your stomach immediately by vomiting and then see a doctor in the hospital as soon as possible!
- Nudibranchs often feed on toadstools. However, it is a fallacy to believe that this mushroom is then also edible for humans. Snails tolerate a higher dose of poison than humans. For us, consumption would have devastating consequences.
Stand fungi (Basidiomycota)
Most edible mushrooms are fungi that form pillar spores and thus belong to the large group of pillar fungi. In cap fungi, these spores are formed under the underside of the cap in corresponding pillar cells (club-shaped structures) in lamellae or corresponding tubes (depending on the type of fungus). Each stem cell forms four spores, from which multicellular, branched hyphae develop after germination.
Since two of the four spores are of different sexes, sex-specific hyphae also develop during germination. They are referred to as male and female. When two sexually different hyphae come into contact, the touching cells fuse and continue to divide. The resulting network of hyphae is called mycelium and runs through the soil like a spider’s web.
Hutpilze (Agaricomycetidae)
Cap mushrooms are divided into the fruiting body and the mycelium. The fruiting body, in turn, is divided into a cap and a stem. At the end of the stalk, a white thread network of fungal threads, the mycelium, becomes visible. The threads are formed from rows of cells whose cell walls are reinforced with chitin. These cell threads usually run several meters through the soil and grow throughout the year except in periods of frost.
The mycelium is the actual fungus and with sufficient moisture, organic food and heat, it forms the above-ground fruiting bodies, also called reproductive bodies, through rapid cell division and cell growth, which are collected as fungi. There is a very special layer on the underside of the cap of the reproductive body, which can have different structures depending on the type of fungus. If this layer consists of fine tubes, these are tube fungi.
These are, for example, the edible porcini, butter mushrooms, chestnuts, birch mushrooms – the satanic mushroom, on the other hand, is poisonous. However, if the layer consists of radiatingly arranged thin leaves (lamellae), then it is a question of agarics. Similar to the spokes of a bicycle, they run from the base of the handle to the edge of the hat. When the mushroom matures, these lamellae are colored chocolate brown.
The edible agaric mushrooms include the button mushroom, chanterelle, moucheron, patty – poisonous, on the other hand, is the fly agaric, death cap and panther mushroom. The underside of the hat is an important feature for identifying mushrooms more precisely (classification feature). The nutritional value of the mushrooms is comparable to that of fresh vegetables. Both consist of over 80 percent water and they contain carbohydrates, nutrient salts and around 5% protein.
Reproduction
Cap fungi (pod fungi) reproduce by spores (pod spores). At the time of reproduction, dust-fine, microscopically small and unicellular spores form in their tubes or on the lamellae (leaves). Each pillar cell forms four spores, two of which are of the same sex. The mature spores are widely dispersed by wind or insects.
After germination, they develop into multicellular, branched hyphae, which are also sex-specific. They are referred to as male and female. When two sexually different hyphae come into contact, the touching cells fuse and continue to divide. The resulting network of hyphae (called mycelium) runs through the soil like a spider’s web.
The reproductive body dies after the spores are released, but the mycelium usually remains and can form new reproductive bodies later. Due to this, when picking mushrooms, one should avoid destroying the mycelium and carefully twist the mushrooms out of the ground. The mycelium spreads out evenly in all directions and forms many reproductive bodies at its ends, which can be arranged in a ring.
In the past, the emergence of such mushroom rings – also called witch rings – could only be explained with witchcraft and believed in a bad omen for the future. Witch rings – What was the idea of their origin in the Middle Ages? The witches danced in circles and where they placed their feet and left an imprint, the reproductive body developed. The scientific explanation of the origin of these so-called witch rings brought down superstition and took away people’s fear of the forest in general.
Diet
The cells of the mushroom mycelium do not contain chloroplasts and consequently no chlorophyll like the green plants. Because of this, they can only feed on heterotrophs, that is, on organic high-energy materials like humans and animals. Most fungi take these substances from dead plants and animals, which they decompose at the same time and break down into inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide, water and mineral salts. These substances are in turn the basis of nutrition for plants. In their decomposition process, they play an important role as mineralizers in the natural cycle of life.
Fungi and plants living together (symbiosis)
Some mushrooms can be found near specific plants. Birch mushrooms grow near birches, larches – boletes under larches and butter mushrooms are often found in pine forests. What are the reasons for this?
Between the cells of the root of the sprout plant and the cells of the fungal mycelium, a lively exchange of substances takes place for mutual benefit. This symbiosis describes the coexistence of two organisms of different species for mutual benefit. This type of symbiotic coexistence is called mycorrhiza.
The numerous fungal threads of the mycelium form a large surface and can therefore absorb a lot of water and mineral salts, some of which they release to the cells of the plant roots. This gives the plant additional nutrients and in return the fungus receives organic components that the mycelium extracts from the root cells. An extremely rewarding community for both types of organisms, which enables optimal growth for the individual.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.