FORESTFUNGI

Assessment of wild edible fungal production in selected Irish forest sites and an evaluation of the commercial potential of harvesting

DOWNLOAD 2009 REPORT AS PDF (pdf 259Kb)  
DOWNLOAD 2009 REPORT IN IRISH (pdf 257Kb) 

PROJECT TEAM
Dr Tom Harrington, University of Limerick*
Maria Cullen, University of Limerick
John O'Connell, Kilcornan, Co Limerick
Jonathan Spazzi, Consultant
Kieran Connolly, Trim, Co Meath
David Fallon, Roscommon, Co Roscommon
Bill O'Dea, Glenageary, Co Dublin

* Email: thomas.harrington@ul.ie

COMPLETION DATE: August 2010

BACKGROUND
At least 1,100 species of wild fungi are collected worldwide for their culinary or medicinal use. In Europe, the most highly valued commercially collected fungi are truffles (Tuber species), ceps (Boletus edulis and related species) and chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius), but many more species may actually be collected for consumption depending on regional preferences.
Harvesting of edible fungi in Irish forests was traditionally rather insignificant, but interest in collecting edible fungi for culinary use has increased greatly in recent years. Information is needed on the potential of edible fungi as a secondary forest product in Ireland. Such information is at present sparse, anecdotal and unpublished, in contrast to the situation in many other European countries, where collecting wild edible mushrooms is popular. The aim of this project is to obtain this information, which will provide an objective basis for assessing the commercial and recreational potential of edible fungal harvesting in Irish forests.

OBJECTIVES

  • To obtain quantitative information on production of wild edible fungi in forest study sites that are representative of larger areas of forest in Ireland
  • To establish a framework for long-term monitoring of the selected sites beyond the lifetime of the project.
  • To extrapolate production from the study sites to larger areas of similar forest in Ireland
  • To assess year-to-year variation in fungal production.
  • To correlate fungal production production with environmental and habitat variables.

    PROGRESS
    The third sampling of the planned 3-year sampling programme was completed in autumn 2009. Forty-six forest sites, and 114 plots within them, were reselected for surveying in 2009. Each site was surveyed four times between the start of September and December. A small number of plots was lost between 2008 and 2009, mainly due to clearfelling.
    Initial results indicate that in 2009 the fruiting season was spread unusually in comparison to previous seasons. Fruiting times were displaced, notably for Armillaria spp. which occurred in profusion at the end of September, approximately 3 weeks earlier than usual. 2009 appears slightly less productive than the 2008 or 2007 season. After a promising start, there were early occurrences of edible fungi, notably edible bracket fungi and very early winter chanterelles in August. However, with dry weather in September, fruiting ceased for a time and never fully recovered the volumes of 2008. The season ended quite early, due in part to very high rainfall in November. A small number of plots were inundated with floodwater for the first time during the three year study. Some unusual species appeared in plots for the first time in 2009, for example Amanita vaginata (grisette). First records of some rarer fungi were recorded from day forays also, e.g. green Russulas close to Russula cyanoxantha, such as Russula vesca and R. langei.
    Additional work in 2009 included soil sampling from each plot. Environmental data collection was completed this year. Data included:
  • Five soil samples from each plot;
  • Assessment of ground flora cover in each plot;
  • Tree numbers and girths;
  • Stand history.

    ACTIVITIES PLANNED
  • Compilation of soil data and other environmental data from plots.
  • Detailed analysis of the data from the three year's sampling will commence. The main aims will be:
    - To provide production estimates of edible fungal fruitbodies in different forest types
    - To extrapolate WEFF production from the study sites to larger areas of similar forest in Ireland
    - To assess year-to year variation in fungal production.
    - To examine the relationship WEFF production with environmental and habitat variables.
    - To examine the association between the different species of edible woodland fungi.

    OUTPUTS
  • A presentation on the project, Forest fungi as non-timber forest product was presented on 28/8/2009.
  • Forest Fungi in Ireland. Woodlands of Ireland lecture, Charleville Castle, October 2009.
  • Identification of Fungi in Ireland. National Biodiversity Data Centre, Waterford September 2009.
  • Cullen, M., Fox, H. and Harrington, T. 2009. Tuber aestivum/uncinatum in Ireland. First Conference on the European Truffle Tuber aestivum, University of Vienna, November 2009. (To be published in the Austrian Journal of Mycology).
  • Radio interview with Michael Lemass during identification course, Avondale 2009. www.growitcookiteatit.ie/2009
  • Eye on Nature, 30 May 2009, Michael Viney article mentioned the Forest Fungi project.

     

     


    2008 report


    PROJECT TEAM
    Dr Tom Harrington, University of Limerick*
    Maria Cullen, University of Limerick
    John O'Connell
    Jonathan Spazzi
    Kieran Connolly
    David Fallon
    Bill O'Dea

    * Email: thomas.harrington@ul.ie

    COMPLETION DATE: August 2010

    BACKGROUND
    At least 1,100 species of wild fungi are collected worldwide for culinary or medicinal use. In Europe, the most highly valued commercially collected fungi are truffles (Tuber species), ceps (Boletus edulis and related species) and chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius), but many more species may actually be collected for consumption depending on regional preferences.
    Harvesting of edible fungi in Irish forests was traditionally rather insignificant, but interest in collecting edible fungi for culinary use has increased greatly in recent years. Information is needed on the potential of edible fungi as a secondary forest product in Ireland. Such information is at present sparse, anecdotal and unpublished, in contrast to the situation in many other European countries where collecting wild edible mushrooms is popular. The aim of this project is to obtain this information, which will provide an objective basis for assessing the commercial and recreational potential of edible fungal harvesting in Irish forests.
    OBJECTIVES
  • To obtain quantitative information on the production of wild edible fungi in forest study sites that are representative of larger areas of forest in Ireland.
  • To establish a framework for long term monitoring of the selected sites beyond the lifetime of the project.
  • To extrapolate production from the study sites to larger areas of similar forest in Ireland.
  • To assess year to year variation in fungal production.
  • To correlate fungal production with environmental and habitat variables.

    PROGRESS
    In 2007, 53 forest sites were selected for surveying in counties Limerick, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Tipperary, Wexford, Wicklow, Dublin, Westmeath, Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Offaly, Laois and Donegal. The sites comprised replicate stands of the following range of tree types, generally in single-species, mature stands: beech, birch, Douglas fir, hazel, lodgepole pine, Norway spruce, noble fir, oak (Q. robur and Q. petraea) and Sitka spruce. In 2007 each site was visited and surveyed between three and four times during the period the first week of September and the last week in November.
    In the run up to the 2008 season, the sites sampled in 2007 were re-evaluated for their suitability for long term monitoring. This resulted in the exclusion of approximately 10% of the 2007 sites and their replacement with potentially more suitable sites. The retained sites were resampled and additional sites were also sampled, commencing in mid-August and finishing at the end of November. Each site was sampled at least four times.
    Levels of production recorded in the 2008 season were similar to the 2007 season. Both seasons were poor compared to the last productive season in 2006. Hedgehog fungus (Hydnum repandum) and different species of chanterelle (Cantharellus species) were again the most abundant edible types, and were present at some sites in commercial quantities. Summer truffles (Tuber aestivum) were found for the first time in the project, located in a woodland site in the Midlands. Collection of environmental and habitat variables (soil and vegetation) continues, and work has commenced on relating fruit body production and distribution patterns to environmental variables.
    Progress was made towards establishing a framework for a long term monitoring of edible woodland fungi. In relation to this also, the website is nearing completion.

    ACTIVITIES PLANNED
  • The third round of sampling for fruit body production will be carried out commencing in August 2009. A small number of sites will be sampled earlier in the year, to check for production of morels, St Georges mushroom and early-fruiting ceps (Boletus edulis).
  • Sampling for summer truffles will be carried out on a more systematic basis in the 2009 season.
  • Collection of environmental data from the sites will be completed.
  • Preliminary multivariate analysis of factors influencing edible fungal production will commence in January 2009.

    OUTPUTS
    Maria Cullen took part in the Mooney Goes Wild programme on RTÉ Radio 1 in October 2008 describing the project, and she and John O'Connell appeared in the Ear to the Ground television programme broadcast by RTÉ on 6 November 2008.