Pleurotus nebrodensis A Very Special Mushroom

The Convention on Biological Diversity requires every participating country to prepare a national biodiversity strategy and action plan and submit periodic progress reports on efforts to achieve the plan’s goal. The most recent such documents submitted by each participating country in Europe were evaluated from the perspective of fungal conservation using simple criteria. In every case, coverage of fungi was markedly poorer than for animals and plants, being mostly far less than 5% that of animals alone. No report dealt adequately with fungi. Most overlooked fungal habitats and contained no strategic planning explicitly for protecting fungi. Almost all confused fungi with plants. Some totally failed to mention fungi. At a governmental level, European fungal conservation and sustainability is deeply deficient. Ways to ameliorate this inadequate treatment through science, infrastructure, education and political approaches are discussed.

The genus Pleurotus comprises ca. 30 species and subspecific taxa of edible mushrooms with a world-wide distribution. Most of them are cultivated on a large range of agricultural and forestry residues and by-products providing a relatively cheap food of high dietetic value through rather simple solid-state fermentation processes. In addition, Pleurotus biomass demonstrates significant medicinal effects and its bioactive compounds (mainly polysaccharides) possess antibiotic, antitumor, hypocholesterolemic and immunomodulation properties. One of the most important aspects related with the exploitation of Pleurotus fungi is that they are powerful lignin decomposers and hence they are used as potent biodegraders of numerous organic pollutants, xenobiotics and industrial wastes. However, all such biotechnological applications are tightly linked with the isolation, identification, evaluation and improvement of the respective genetic resources. Assessments of Pleurotus diversity in Europe in conjunction with biochemical, molecular and compatibility studies revealed the existence of eight species, i.e. P. calyptratus, P. cornucopiae, P. dryinus, P. eryngii, P. fuscosquamulosus, P. nebrodensis, P. ostreatus and P. pulmonarius, which are described in detail (anatomy, ecology and distribution). Furthermore, P. abieticola and P. opuntiae are two additional species reported to occur in Europe, albeit infrequent to very rare; the former was isolated from east Russia whereas the latter in Mediterranean Europe. A synthesis of available information on Pleurotus systematics is also presented and discussed.

This chapter provides a brief description of species diversity and distribution of taxa belonging to the genus Pleurotus for each Italian region. For taxa that grow on the Sicilian territory and belong to the so-called “Pleurotus eryngii species-complex” ecological data are also reported.

The territory of the Madonie Mountains is considered as a biodiversity hot-spot in the Mediterranean Basin. Since long distinguished botanists who have studied the vegetation of this particular territory were fascinated by the high level of species diversity. In this chapter, an overview of the geographical, geological, soil, climatic and vegetation features of the area is provided. Madonie territory is an important center of diversity for fungi and in particular for species belonging to the genus Pleurotus growing on roots of plants of the family Apiaceae.

Giuseppe Inzenga, the scientist who first described Pleurotus nebrodensis, was one of the major mycologists of the second half of the 19th century. This chapter describes the main biographical aspects of the life of Inzenga and has contribution to science with particular reference to mycology. The chapter also includes notes on the social and academic context of the mid-1800s, which led Inzenga to the original description of P. nebrodensis, the analysis of the critical aspects of nomenclature and the logical path that led us to the recent designation of a P. nebrodensis epitype. An updated description of the taxon and the discovery of the loci classici of P. nebrodensis collections is also reported.

A detailed report on Pleurotus nebrodensis cultivation methodologies, production costs, main pests and diseases and their control techniques is presented, together with information about the nutritional value and medicinal properties of the mushroom.

This chapter provides a report of a marketing investigation performed in synergy with private companies in order to activate a production chain for the cultivation and trade of Pleurotus nebrodensis. A recent experience of technological innovation carried out in a farm of the Madonie (N. Sicily) territory is also presented. Notes on the status of Critically Endangered species and pertinent legislation are also provided.