beneficial effects in terms of survival rate, this year (2013) more than 4 kg of Suillus
were picked associated with the trees of P. greggii inoculated with this EEM
(Carrasco-Hernández personal communication). Therefore, it is important to note
that the development of this biotechnology is not only useful in the production of
EEM for commercial purposes, but for the beneficial effects in terms of growth and
survival under field conditions of the associated trees, with the consequent capture
of greenhouse gases, carbon capture and storage, and potentially ameliorating the
effects of global climate change. However, it is important to note that despite the
initial successes and seminal research developed in Colegio de Postgraduados,
there is still a huge challenge related to the biotechnological development of EEM
use with forest application and sustainable management in Mexico.
6.6 Conclusions
EEMs represent an important understudied source of novel bioactive compounds
useful for improving human health, as medicine or nutraceuticals. Analgesic,
antiallergic, anticarcinogenic, antibacterial, anticoagulant, antifungal, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antioxidant, antipyretic, antivenom,
antiviral (including anti-HIV), cholesterol-lowering, hepatoprotective, and
immune enhancement properties have been found in more than 100 species of
EEMs distributed in more than 35 genera of wild fungi among Ascomycotina and
Basidiomycotina. In addition to this importance as medicinal and functional food,
this group of mushrooms represents an attractive source of bioactive compounds
useful in a more sustainable agriculture, due to the fact that antagonistic effect
against pests, plant pathogenic bacteria, fungi, nematodes, or viruses have been
detected in more than 50 species in 25 ectomycorrhizal genera. Currently, the
ecophysiological function of these bioactive compounds for most of the ectomycorrhizal species, under natural conditions, has not been very well understood. The
characterization of the bioactive compounds, from EEMs, with therapeutic effects
of human health, and agricultural application is in its infancy. Despite this fact, it
is quite clear that the potential characterization and purification of bioactive
compounds from EEMs might lead to the formulation of novel therapeutic compounds. Additionally, more basic and applied research related to the massive
cultivation of mycelium, or plantations inoculated with EEMs, of a wider range of
edible ectomycorrhizal species, where useful bioactive compounds have been
detected would be highly desirable to industrially produce these useful bioactive
compounds. Advances in the cultivation of EEMs can contribute to multiple
problems currently faced by humans, including production of nutritive and healthy
food, production of nutraceuticals, contribution to sustainable rural development,
and through keeping forests, to contribute to carbon sequestration and therefore to
global change.
6 Edible Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms
211
were picked associated with the trees of P. greggii inoculated with this EEM
(Carrasco-Hernández personal communication). Therefore, it is important to note
that the development of this biotechnology is not only useful in the production of
EEM for commercial purposes, but for the beneficial effects in terms of growth and
survival under field conditions of the associated trees, with the consequent capture
of greenhouse gases, carbon capture and storage, and potentially ameliorating the
effects of global climate change. However, it is important to note that despite the
initial successes and seminal research developed in Colegio de Postgraduados,
there is still a huge challenge related to the biotechnological development of EEM
use with forest application and sustainable management in Mexico.
6.6 Conclusions
EEMs represent an important understudied source of novel bioactive compounds
useful for improving human health, as medicine or nutraceuticals. Analgesic,
antiallergic, anticarcinogenic, antibacterial, anticoagulant, antifungal, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antioxidant, antipyretic, antivenom,
antiviral (including anti-HIV), cholesterol-lowering, hepatoprotective, and
immune enhancement properties have been found in more than 100 species of
EEMs distributed in more than 35 genera of wild fungi among Ascomycotina and
Basidiomycotina. In addition to this importance as medicinal and functional food,
this group of mushrooms represents an attractive source of bioactive compounds
useful in a more sustainable agriculture, due to the fact that antagonistic effect
against pests, plant pathogenic bacteria, fungi, nematodes, or viruses have been
detected in more than 50 species in 25 ectomycorrhizal genera. Currently, the
ecophysiological function of these bioactive compounds for most of the ectomycorrhizal species, under natural conditions, has not been very well understood. The
characterization of the bioactive compounds, from EEMs, with therapeutic effects
of human health, and agricultural application is in its infancy. Despite this fact, it
is quite clear that the potential characterization and purification of bioactive
compounds from EEMs might lead to the formulation of novel therapeutic compounds. Additionally, more basic and applied research related to the massive
cultivation of mycelium, or plantations inoculated with EEMs, of a wider range of
edible ectomycorrhizal species, where useful bioactive compounds have been
detected would be highly desirable to industrially produce these useful bioactive
compounds. Advances in the cultivation of EEMs can contribute to multiple
problems currently faced by humans, including production of nutritive and healthy
food, production of nutraceuticals, contribution to sustainable rural development,
and through keeping forests, to contribute to carbon sequestration and therefore to
global change.
6 Edible Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms
211