Here we go again sharing content and learning, thanks to the Harvard Museum of Natural History’s YouTube channel with highlights of their Virtual Fabulous Fungus Fair. Check out the short videos addressing such subjects as Fungal Biofertilizers (in which fungi are considered as an alternative to traditional fertilizers, thus taking advantage of mycorrhizal relationships to better reach nutrients in the soil and improve plant growth) along with Mycoremediation (when fungi are used to break down pollutants in the environment), Small Fungi, Big Pharma (where fungi behind the popular drugs penicillin and statins is discussed) and Fungal Biofuels.
We can continue to learn more about
fungi, thanks to various presentations such as this.
In Fungi in Different Cultures, it was noted that the US and the UK are two major myrofobic countries. To illustrate, the average resident of the Netherlands annually consumes about 11.7 kilograms (about 26 pounds) of mushrooms while the average American consumes about a tenth of that at 1.6 kilograms (about 3.5 pounds). The speaker pointed out that “Most Romantic-speaking countries like France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, and Romantic-speaking minorities are mycophilic.” In these countries, mushrooms are important as food.
Yet another YouTube focused on Bioluminescent Fungi where bioluminescence can be observed in both the mycelia and the fruiting body of fungi which are found in temperate as well as tropical climates on substrates as various as litter, dead tree trunks, roots, and fallen branches. Until recently how they glowed was a mystery, but it is now known that it is the same method as used by jelly fish and scorpions.
I was disappointed that Foods and Fungi did not address the issue of ensuring that wild mushrooms are well cooked before consuming.
In the Interviews with Mycologists, I especially appreciated Giuliana Furci’s comment that “Without fungi there is no ecosystem … fungi demonstrate that no life form exists individually.”
Fungi in Traditional Healing Practices pointed out that the Chinese Caterpillar Fungus is one of the most well-known medicinal fungi in the world, being documented in 15th century Tibet. It is thought to possess a variety of properties and “has become one of the most expensive fungi species in the world due to high market demand. “
The relationship between termites and their fungal garden is explored in Insects and Fungi. Interestingly, the fungal colony often does not produce fruiting bodies until the termites have died or left the mound.
Yes, there is a lot more information that could be noted in this short post about the YouTube presentations, but it was our intention to simply whet your appetite for more. Thus, we'll sign off with many thanks to the Harvard Museum of Natural History for your thoughtful, stimulating and varied Fabulous Fungus Fair.