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Ethnomycological Study of Wild Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms in District Jammu, J&K (UT), India

Summary

This research documented traditional knowledge about wild edible mushrooms in the Jammu district of India. The study found that local people use 14 different types of wild mushrooms for food and medicine, with the Termitomyces species being the most important. However, this valuable traditional knowledge is at risk of being lost as it is mainly held by elderly and less educated community members. Impact on everyday life: • Provides information about safe, nutritious wild mushrooms that can supplement local diets • Helps preserve traditional food knowledge that could otherwise be lost • Creates potential economic opportunities through mushroom cultivation • Identifies natural food sources that could help address food security • Documents medicinal uses of mushrooms for common health issues

Background

Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has a rich tradition of using wild edible mushrooms (WEMs) for culinary and medicinal purposes, but documentation has been limited to certain regions. District Jammu had never been explored for WEM and quantification of traditional knowledge was lacking.

Objective

The study aimed to document wild edible mushrooms and their usage in Jammu district, identify the most commonly used species, and analyze the consensus of usage and associated traditional knowledge among the local population.

Results

The study documented 14 species of wild edible mushrooms belonging to 6 families and 10 genera. Agaricaceae and Lyophyllaceae were the most represented families. Termitomyces was the dominant genus with 5 species. Based on Cultural Importance Index, Termitomyces sp. was the most important species followed by T. heimii, T. clypeatus, and T. striatus var. annulatus. Over 78.6% of documented species were new records for J&K. Female, elderly, and less educated informants demonstrated significantly higher knowledge of WEMs.

Conclusion

The inhabitants of Jammu district possess substantial traditional knowledge of wild edible mushrooms, but this knowledge is at risk due to lack of documentation, concentration among elderly and uneducated populations, and habitat destruction. There is an urgent need to educate locals about available WEMs and develop cultivation protocols to ensure future availability and create income opportunities.
  • Published in:Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine,
  • Study Type:Ethnomycological Survey,
  • Source: 10.1186/s13002-022-00521-z
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