Pleurotus nebrodensis (Basidiomycota), a rare endemic mushroom of Sicily: current and future issues

By

Gargano, Maria Letizia
Venturella, Giuseppe
Balenzano, Gaetano
Ferraro, Valeria
Cirlincione, Fortunato
Mirabile, Giulia

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024-6-20

Original Publication

Italian botanist

Volume

17

Pages

55--68

Subjects

Basidiomycete , Fungal diversity , medicinal mushroom , Mediterranean area

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft 2016-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist.17.123048

 

Abstract

This paper deals with the basidiomycete Pleurotus nebrodensis, one of the rare examples of endemic fungi in Italy and Europe. After clarifying the taxonomy of this taxon, including a comparison with a species from China misidentified as “Pleurotus nebrodensis”, we describe the characteristics of its natural habitat, and provide a new morphological description and information on its pilot-scale cultivation, current conservation status according to IUCN criteria and conservation strategies. New ITS region sequences were deposited in GenBank. Furthermore, the antibacterial and anti-cancer properties of P. nebrodensis are mentioned, making it a potential medicinal mushroom. Finally, a critical analysis, on a phylogenetic basis, of the Italian production of substrates inoculated with “P. nebrodensis” strains is also included.