Bul. Dept. Pl. Res. No. 36 (A Scientific Publication) Government of Nepal Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation Department of Plant Resources Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal 2014 ISSN 1995 - 8579 Bulletin of Department of Plant Resources No. 36 PLANT RESOURCES Government of Nepal Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation Department of Plant Resources Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal 2014 Advisory Board Mr. Yam Bahadur Thapa Ms. Sushma Upadhyaya Mr. Bed Nidhi Sharma Managing Editor Ms. Nirmala Phuyal Editorial Board Ms. Ramila Pradhan Mr. Balkrisha Khakurel Mr. Narahari Chapagain Mr. Ramesh Basnet Mr. Dipak Lamichchane Mr. Laxman Jha N. of Copies: 500 Cover Photo: Pedicularis integrifolia Hook. f. Photo by G. D. Bhatt Date of Publication: April, 2014 © All rights reserved Department of Plant Resources (DPR) Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 977-1-4251160, 4251161, 4268246 E-mail: [email protected] Citation: Name of the author, year of publication. Title of the paper, Bul. Dept. Pl. Res. N. 36, N. of pages, Department of Plant Resources, Kathmandu, Nepal. ISSN: 1995-8579 Published By: Publicity and Documentation Section Department of Plant Resources (DPR), Kathmandu, Nepal Mr. B.K. Khakurel Reviewers: Dr. K.R. Bhattarai Ms. Sushma Upadhyaya Ms. Rose ShresthaMs. N. Joshi Dr. Keshab Raj Rajbhandari Ms. Keshari MaiyaDr. M.N. Rajkarnikar Subedi Dr. Krishna Ram Amatya Dr. Bijaya Panta Dr. Sumitra Singh Dr. Bharat Babu Shrestha Mr. Narahari Chapagain Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Rai Ms. Nirmala Joshi Ms. Saroja Adhikari The issue can be retrieved from http://www.dpr.gov.np Government of Nepal 4251139 4251159 MINISTRY OF FORESTS & SOIL CONSERVATION { 4251160 4251171 DEPARTMENT OF PLANT RESOURCES Fax No.: 4251141 GRAM: VANSAPATI, KATHMANDU Ref. No.: THAPATHALI, KATHMANDU FOREWORD I am pleased to put forward some of my thoughts into this publication of the Department. I commend the work of the scientists of this Department who have accomplished the work despite hardships of various natures including prolonged interruption of power supply and utilities related malfunctions. These limitations are being addressed in the current fiscal year. Laboratories are under up gradation and newer equipments have been procured. Scientific manpower of all levels is provided with training and exposure opportunities abroad. All these interventions are expected to facilitate research which is of immense value to carry out credible research and therefore harness the unlimited potential of our biodiversity sector towards economic and environmental prosperity. We have initiated collaborative research of diverse nature a few of which is expected to trigger international trade in MAP sector. We are continually evolving our work plan based on the policy directives of the Government. It is also a matter of satisfaction for us that the process of drafting the Plant Resource Act was revived after a long gap since 2058. The process is in advance stage of consultation and once formalized it will provide legal basis for our mandate and will put our scientific workforce into proper perspective. We need to build upon our research capabilities and the benchmarks established in the past and look forward to emerging and reemerging challenges faced by MAPs sector. The scope and quality of research should be oriented to resolve the problems and difficulties experienced in this sector. We need to strive for innovation and novelty. Such achievements should be owned and protected and the merit of publication should be considered based on impact factor in the sector. Scientific research are credible and desired if they are need- based and competitive nationally and internationally. The Department is privileged in that the MOF&SC has approved a procedural guideline facilitating scientists to undertake research while in regular work. I am confident that the Department will become more and more oriented towards academic research and will contribute scientifically in the endeavor of nation building. Finally I would like to thank the painstaking effort of all the paper contributors, editorial board members, publicity and documentation section to bring out the publication in this form. ……………………………. Yam Bahadur Thapa Director General April 2014 Editorial We are pleased to bring out this issue of "Bull Dept Pl Res No 36", a continuation of our publication on plant resources. The issue carries a score of peer reviewed original scientific and review articles mostly based on the research undertaken by scientists within the Department of Plant Resources. Since this publication speaks on the scope and objectives of our Department, we are aware that the publication should accommodate as many articles as possible so that it truly represents the work of our Department. And at the same time we are also aware of the need to preserve the scientific quality and integrity of the research articles. 19 articles have been incorporated in this issue under different categories like systematic botany, ethnobotanical study, floristic survey, ecology, biotechnology, review paper, chemical and biological analysis. We encourage our scientists to pursue quality research and contribute to build scientific knowledge on MAPs sector of Nepal. We thank each and every contributor for their interest in publishing their valued work in this scientific publication and look forward to further cooperation and collaboration. We value the comments and opinion of our contributors and readers. We apologize in advance for any lapses in this issue and at the same time promise to improve the future issues based on your valued input. Addition and correction to the knowledge on edibility of wild mushrooms in Nepal: a discussion M. K. Adhikari GPO Box no. 21758, Kathmandu, Nepal Abstract This paper provides an updated list and information (with corrections, addition and nomenclature changes along with their occurrence, appearance frequency and market status) to the previous knowledge on wild edible mushrooms gathered and reported by various researchers in Nepal. Near about 335 species have been analysed (based on Nepalese reports and FAO compiled list from various sources) with critical notes about their edibility and collection concept in Nepal. The screening is based on various literatures published abroad. In total 131 (111 from previous list and 20 recent addition) species are recognised as edible ones without any hesitation, 66 species are controversially treated for their edibility, and 23 species (listed previously) are recorded poisonous or to be avoided. Rests of species are discussed separately about their edibility. All species need authentic identification or consultation with experts before eating or consumption. Key words : Wild edible mushrooms, list, literature account, market, Nepal Introduction consumption, which supply the necessary nutritional elements required to the body or to fill the stomach a. General or belly. Moreover it depends on availability of the FAO (www.wildusefulfungi.org, 2004) provides species, good flavor, delicious in eating and if there merely a compiled list of near about 1130 wild no alternative of food grains to eat. The term “edible” species of fungi reported from various countries, is used for the little amount of the fungus used as a which are said to be edible or used as food and with supplement, as a vegetable, as a constituent or an medicinal value. According to FAO paper, those ingredient in the food but not necessary for daily records were taken from more than 140 sources, use. So, regarding the concept of edibility of a fungus including papers, books, websites and other contacts, it is very controversial. It depends up on some of of which full details are held in a database established the factors as noted below: by the authors. The names of the species as they a. Altitudinal diversity and availability of species. appear in the original publications are with the b. Altitude influencing phytogeographic conditions, exception of obvious spelling mistakes, which are local environment, type and nature of the visualized necessary to provide the valid and substrate and soil texture. synonym easily available to all. Moreover the c. Form, structure and color of the fungi, which mycological literatures do not always make it clear differ in each species, individual and place. In whether an “edible” fungus is simply eaten as Nepal mostly they fear to eat red forms as they vegetable and or used as “food”. Recently Roman think to be poisonous species excepting few. (2010) briefly provided a comparative account on d. Amount of availability of the species and wild edible species reported from different countries. appearance, growth, frequency of the species and The term ‘food’, as listed in FAO paper, at present or scarcity of food. (in my) opinion, may have been applied, when the e. Concept on edibility of fungus, ethnomycophagus quantity of a fungus is used in large amount instead groups, traditional mycophagus society and of or as substitute to food grains associated with daily mycophilians. Traditional method in use of fungi. Bul. Dept. Pl. Res. No. 36 1 Addition and correction to... f. The physiology of person varies in each abnormalities in human body structure or physiology, individual. So edibility depends upon physiology which can either be noticed or unnoticed. Some cases of a person/ethnic groups and ability to resist the can be detected to have abnormal appearance. The toxicity of a fungus. cases can be studied in such areas where there is g. Nearness of collection, neatness of collector and scarcity of food materials and the inhabitants have poverty of collector. Method of collection, to rely mostly on the wild species. mixing of species, carriage time and nature or type of basket. Species in Nepal h. Storage of material, nature of storing material, time duration, days and method of drying. a. Nepalese reports i. Cooking methodology and the ingredients used The Nepalese literature review [Adhikari (1996, to cook (what species you eat, how you eat, with 2000ab, 2004, 2008, 2009abc, 2011), Adhikari & what other species you mix during cooking and Adhikari (1996-97, 1999), Adhikari et al., (1996), the quantity you eat).