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All About Mushrooms!
A TOPICAL PRESENTATION
BY
MAX ARKLEY-SMITH
APRIL 2023
What are fungi?
2
[1] Hug, L., Baker, B., Anantharaman, K. et al. A new view of the tree of life. Nat Microbiol 1, 16048 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.48
[2] Adl, S.M., et al. (2012), The Revised Classification of Eukaryotes. J. Eukaryot. Microbiol., 59: 429-514. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.2012.00644.x
You are here
You are here
What are fungi? Overview
Macroscopic
filamentous
fungi (with
mushrooms)
Single celled
yeasts
Multicellular
filamentous
moulds
Heterotrophic
Organisms
Must consume
nutrients to
survive
Can only move
via growth
What are fungi? (as close as
you can get)
2
Diverse range of organisms built from Chitin
Chitin is the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature behind
cellulose
Abundant in the exoskeletons of crustaceans, and insects, and some fish
and amphibians
About chitin
2
Conversion to Chitosan Electrolytic
properties
Gel forming
High adsorption
Water treatment
Biosensors
Agriculture
Food Processing
Textile additives
Medicine
delivery
Low toxicity
Biocompatibility
[3] Merzendorfer, H., Cohen, E. (2019). Chitin/Chitosan: Versatile Ecological, Industrial, and Biomedical Applications. In: Cohen, E., Merzendorfer, H. (eds) Extracellular Sugar-Based Biopolymers
Matrices. Biologically-Inspired Systems, vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12919-4_14
Hyphae, mycelium, and the
life cycles of fungi
2
Fungi reproduce
through spores
Asexually or
sexually
Homo (same
mycelia) or hetero
(different mycelia)
-karyotically
Hyphae, mycelium, and the
life cycles of fungi
2
[4] Priyamvada, H., Singh, R.K., Akila, M. et al. Seasonal variation of the dominant allergenic fungal aerosols – One year study from southern Indian region. Sci Rep 7, 11171 (2017).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-11727-7
Fungal feeding relationships
2
Fungi have 3 main
methods of feeding
1.
Decomposing
dead organic
matter
2. Mutual
relationships
with living
organisms
3. Parasitic
feeding
Saprotrophic Feeding
2
Fungi are one of the
most important
decomposers in the
environment
Responsible for
cycling and
decomposition of
organics and
mineral
Metabolic outputs
include C, H, O, N, P,
S, metals, and
metalloids
[5] G.M. Gadd, Fungi and Their Role in the Biosphere, Encyclopedia of Ecology, Academic Press, 2008, pp. 1709-1717,
ISBN 9780080454054, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008045405-4.00734-5.
Fungi
Inorganics Organics
Enzyme & metabolite
mediated transformations
Interactions between
organic and inorganic
chemicals
Uptake, sorption,
and metabolism
Uptake, degradation,
and metabolism
Production of
inorganic
metabolites
Production of inorganic
metabolites, exopolymers
and biomass
Mutualistic/mycorrhizal
feeding relationships
2
>80% of fungi have
a mycorrhizal
relationship with a
specific plant
The fungus gets
direct access to
food from the
roots of the plant
The plant benefits
from increased
water absorption
via the mycelium
This relationship
may have allowed
plants first to
colonise land
Lichens are part
photosynthesiser
and part fungi
[6] ASTA Juliette (August 21, 2019), Lichens, surprising pioneering organisms, Encyclopedia of the
Environment, Accessed April 18, 2023 [online ISSN 2555-0950] url : https://www.encyclopedie-
environnement.org/en/life/lichens-pioneering-organisms/.
[7] Heim, R. 1977. Termites et champignons. Les champignons
termitophiles d´Afrique Noire et d´Asie méridionale. Société Nouvelle
des Éditions Boubée, Paris.
Some termites cultivate
fungal gardens for nutrition
and building purposes
Parasitic
Relationships
Moulds and
pathogenic fungal
infections fit into
this category
Some species like
cordyceps have
developed specific
relationships with
insects
Impacts can range
from benign to
deadly
Fungi as food
Mushrooms have been
discovered in human
remains dating back to over
18000 years
Mushrooms are still
traditionally consumed as
food in many Eastern
European and Asian
cultures while, only select
species are cultivated in the
west
Many mushrooms are
unsafe for eating or contain
undesirable psychoactive or
bioactive effects, such as
the Fly Agaric, consumed by
Vikings, shamans, and
ancient Mexicans
Wild truffles are one of the
most sought-after and
expensive foods in the
world (up to $100 each)
[8] Kotowski, M. (2019). 'History of mushroom consumption and its impact on traditional view on mycobiota – an example from Poland', Microbial Biosystems, 4(3), pp. 1-13. doi:
10.21608/mb.2019.61290
Fungi in
Australia
Most traditional
knowledge is lost
due to
colonisation
There are estimated to
be nearly 13,000
species of fungi in
Australia
James Drummond, an
early settler and plant
collector in Western
Australia talked of a
large luminous
mushroom (most
likely Omphalotus
nidiformis) and
reported that several
Aboriginal people,
when they saw it
"...cried out 'Chinga!'
their name for a spirit,
and seemed much
afraid of it".
The species recorded
eaten or used by
aboriginal people
include:
- Choiromyces
aboriginum (native
truffle)
- Beech oranges
- Native bread
- Phellinus sp. ( as
medicine for sore
throats and chest
infections)
- Pycnoporus sp. ( used
as teething rings, for
ulcers, and sore lips)
[9] Kalotas,A, Fungi of Australia, Volume 1B, retrieved from Aboriginal use of fungi (anbg.gov.au)
Foraging and
Foraying
Foraying is a scientific
expedition to identify
fungi
Foraging is a
gathering practice to
eat or use fungi
When done safely and
ethically, foraging can
be a great way to
connect with the
environment
Collecting pine
mushrooms in Winter
and Autumn is the
easiest way to stat
Learn from an expert
in-person and triple
check mushroom
identities before
eating any mushroom!
How to Get Involved
Learning from
experts
•Diego Bonetto
• Weed and mushroom foraging and cooking workshops in Sydney and
surrounds
• @theweedyone in Instagram, diegobonetto.com
•Martin Martini
• Native mushroom expert and experimental forager
•@bellyof theworldmushrooms on Instagram and facebook
•QLD based but comes down to NSW regularly
Buy an
identification
field guide
•Field Guide to Australian Fungi (Bruce Fuhrer)
•Wild Mushrooming, a guide from foragers (Pouliot and May)
•Field Guide to the Fungi of Australia (Young and Smith)
Join Online
Communities
•iNaturalist
•Social nature ID app with really good AI matching that contributes to
research
•Fungus Identification Australia and New Zealand (Facebook group)
•Group of amateurs and experts used by most as their triple check before
eating anything
Go Outside
•Look at the ground after it rains
My Favourites

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Max Arkley-Smith Fungi Presentation 1704.pptx

  • 1. All About Mushrooms! A TOPICAL PRESENTATION BY MAX ARKLEY-SMITH APRIL 2023
  • 3. [1] Hug, L., Baker, B., Anantharaman, K. et al. A new view of the tree of life. Nat Microbiol 1, 16048 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.48 [2] Adl, S.M., et al. (2012), The Revised Classification of Eukaryotes. J. Eukaryot. Microbiol., 59: 429-514. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.2012.00644.x You are here You are here
  • 4. What are fungi? Overview Macroscopic filamentous fungi (with mushrooms) Single celled yeasts Multicellular filamentous moulds Heterotrophic Organisms Must consume nutrients to survive Can only move via growth
  • 5. What are fungi? (as close as you can get) 2 Diverse range of organisms built from Chitin Chitin is the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature behind cellulose Abundant in the exoskeletons of crustaceans, and insects, and some fish and amphibians
  • 6. About chitin 2 Conversion to Chitosan Electrolytic properties Gel forming High adsorption Water treatment Biosensors Agriculture Food Processing Textile additives Medicine delivery Low toxicity Biocompatibility [3] Merzendorfer, H., Cohen, E. (2019). Chitin/Chitosan: Versatile Ecological, Industrial, and Biomedical Applications. In: Cohen, E., Merzendorfer, H. (eds) Extracellular Sugar-Based Biopolymers Matrices. Biologically-Inspired Systems, vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12919-4_14
  • 7. Hyphae, mycelium, and the life cycles of fungi 2 Fungi reproduce through spores Asexually or sexually Homo (same mycelia) or hetero (different mycelia) -karyotically
  • 8. Hyphae, mycelium, and the life cycles of fungi 2 [4] Priyamvada, H., Singh, R.K., Akila, M. et al. Seasonal variation of the dominant allergenic fungal aerosols – One year study from southern Indian region. Sci Rep 7, 11171 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-11727-7
  • 9. Fungal feeding relationships 2 Fungi have 3 main methods of feeding 1. Decomposing dead organic matter 2. Mutual relationships with living organisms 3. Parasitic feeding
  • 10. Saprotrophic Feeding 2 Fungi are one of the most important decomposers in the environment Responsible for cycling and decomposition of organics and mineral Metabolic outputs include C, H, O, N, P, S, metals, and metalloids [5] G.M. Gadd, Fungi and Their Role in the Biosphere, Encyclopedia of Ecology, Academic Press, 2008, pp. 1709-1717, ISBN 9780080454054, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008045405-4.00734-5. Fungi Inorganics Organics Enzyme & metabolite mediated transformations Interactions between organic and inorganic chemicals Uptake, sorption, and metabolism Uptake, degradation, and metabolism Production of inorganic metabolites Production of inorganic metabolites, exopolymers and biomass
  • 11. Mutualistic/mycorrhizal feeding relationships 2 >80% of fungi have a mycorrhizal relationship with a specific plant The fungus gets direct access to food from the roots of the plant The plant benefits from increased water absorption via the mycelium This relationship may have allowed plants first to colonise land Lichens are part photosynthesiser and part fungi [6] ASTA Juliette (August 21, 2019), Lichens, surprising pioneering organisms, Encyclopedia of the Environment, Accessed April 18, 2023 [online ISSN 2555-0950] url : https://www.encyclopedie- environnement.org/en/life/lichens-pioneering-organisms/.
  • 12. [7] Heim, R. 1977. Termites et champignons. Les champignons termitophiles d´Afrique Noire et d´Asie méridionale. Société Nouvelle des Éditions Boubée, Paris. Some termites cultivate fungal gardens for nutrition and building purposes
  • 13. Parasitic Relationships Moulds and pathogenic fungal infections fit into this category Some species like cordyceps have developed specific relationships with insects Impacts can range from benign to deadly
  • 14. Fungi as food Mushrooms have been discovered in human remains dating back to over 18000 years Mushrooms are still traditionally consumed as food in many Eastern European and Asian cultures while, only select species are cultivated in the west Many mushrooms are unsafe for eating or contain undesirable psychoactive or bioactive effects, such as the Fly Agaric, consumed by Vikings, shamans, and ancient Mexicans Wild truffles are one of the most sought-after and expensive foods in the world (up to $100 each) [8] Kotowski, M. (2019). 'History of mushroom consumption and its impact on traditional view on mycobiota – an example from Poland', Microbial Biosystems, 4(3), pp. 1-13. doi: 10.21608/mb.2019.61290
  • 15. Fungi in Australia Most traditional knowledge is lost due to colonisation There are estimated to be nearly 13,000 species of fungi in Australia James Drummond, an early settler and plant collector in Western Australia talked of a large luminous mushroom (most likely Omphalotus nidiformis) and reported that several Aboriginal people, when they saw it "...cried out 'Chinga!' their name for a spirit, and seemed much afraid of it". The species recorded eaten or used by aboriginal people include: - Choiromyces aboriginum (native truffle) - Beech oranges - Native bread - Phellinus sp. ( as medicine for sore throats and chest infections) - Pycnoporus sp. ( used as teething rings, for ulcers, and sore lips) [9] Kalotas,A, Fungi of Australia, Volume 1B, retrieved from Aboriginal use of fungi (anbg.gov.au)
  • 16. Foraging and Foraying Foraying is a scientific expedition to identify fungi Foraging is a gathering practice to eat or use fungi When done safely and ethically, foraging can be a great way to connect with the environment Collecting pine mushrooms in Winter and Autumn is the easiest way to stat Learn from an expert in-person and triple check mushroom identities before eating any mushroom!
  • 17. How to Get Involved Learning from experts •Diego Bonetto • Weed and mushroom foraging and cooking workshops in Sydney and surrounds • @theweedyone in Instagram, diegobonetto.com •Martin Martini • Native mushroom expert and experimental forager •@bellyof theworldmushrooms on Instagram and facebook •QLD based but comes down to NSW regularly Buy an identification field guide •Field Guide to Australian Fungi (Bruce Fuhrer) •Wild Mushrooming, a guide from foragers (Pouliot and May) •Field Guide to the Fungi of Australia (Young and Smith) Join Online Communities •iNaturalist •Social nature ID app with really good AI matching that contributes to research •Fungus Identification Australia and New Zealand (Facebook group) •Group of amateurs and experts used by most as their triple check before eating anything Go Outside •Look at the ground after it rains

Editor's Notes

  1. Title here