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Copyright of Mycosystema is the property of Mycosystema Editorial Board and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Morels (Morchella sp. pl.) are valuable mushrooms, and their applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries has steadily increased in China.White mold disease is a common and severe disease in the culturing of morels, which is mainly manifested as white villous mycelial infection on the fruiting bodies of these mushrooms. However, the causal agent is not yet known. Therefore, this study aims to identify, at the species level, the causal pathogen of this disease via morphological and molecular methods and then to confirm its pathogenicity through Koch's postulates. The pathogen was identified as Neonectria candida. Healthy ascocarps were inoculated with N. candida, which produced the initial disease symptoms with white mold appearing at the inoculation sites. The same pathogen was then isolated again from diseased ascocarps. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Morchella importuna ascocarps with white mold disease caused by N. candida in China. Moreover, this report will inform the establishment of sustainable management strategies for white mold disease in morels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food fraud is a problematic yet common phenomenon in the food industry. It impacts numerous sectors, including the market of edible mushrooms. Morel mushrooms are prized worldwide for their culinary and medicinal use. They represent a taxonomically complex group in which food fraud has already been reported. Among the methods to evaluate food fraud, some rely on comparisons of genetic sequences obtained from a sample to existing databases. However, the quality and usefulness of the results are limited by the type of comparison tool and the quality of the database used. The Centroid‐based approach is applied by SmartGene in a proprietary artificial intelligence‐based method for the generation of automatically curated reference databases that can be further expert curated. In this study, using sequences of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the genus Morchella (true morels), we compared this approach to the traditional pairwise alignment tool using two other databases: UNITE and Mycobank (MLST). The Centroid‐based approach using an expert‐curated database was more performant for the identification of 53 representative ITS sequences corresponding to validated species (83% accuracy, compared to 36% and 47% accuracy for UNITE and MLST, respectively). The Centroid method also revealed an inaccurate taxonomic annotation for sequences of commercial cultivars submitted to public databases. Combined with the web‐based commercial software IDNS® available at Smartgene, the Centroid‐based approach constitutes a valuable tool to ensure the quality of morel products on the market for actors of the food industry. Practical Application: The Centroid‐based approach can be used by agri‐food actors who need to identify true morels down to the species level without any prior taxonomical knowledge. These include routine laboratories of the food industry, food distributors, and public surveillance agencies. This is a reliable method that requires minimal skills and resources, therefore being particularly adapted for nonspecialists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

True morels (Morchella spp.) are renowned for their aroma and taste, and hot air drying is widely used to extend the shelf life of harvested morels. However, the effects of different drying temperatures on volatile flavor compounds and non-volatile metabolites in the morel are poorly understood. Here, fresh morels (Morchella sextelata) were air-dried at low (45 °C, LT), medium (55 °C, MT), and high temperatures (65 °C, HT). The volatile flavor compounds and non-volatile metabolites were analyzed using GC-IMS and LC-MS/MS, respectively. The GC-IMS revealed that aldehydes, hydrocarbons, and pyrazines increased at greater temperatures, while acids, alcohols, and esters decreased. Random forest machine learning indicated that 1-hexanol and ethyl 3-methylbutanoate were indicative flavor compounds at LTs, while those at MTs and HTs were hexanal and valeraldehyde, respectively. Greater temperatures reduced acetic acid, an unpleasant sour flavor. The LC-MS/MS showed that the relative abundance of amino acids and nucleotides increased with the temperature, with the same trend in 5′-nucleotides and flavor amino acids. Sorbitol 6-phosphate was indicative of the non-volatile metabolites at LTs, while several amino acids were indicative at MTs and HTs. This study revealed the flavor and taste characteristics of morels dried at different temperatures, providing a theoretical reference for establishing a standardized postharvest morel drying process and maintaining morel quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During March-April 2023, a total of 51 persons reported mild to severe gastrointestinal illness after eating at restaurant A in Bozeman, Montana. The outbreak resulted in multiple severe outcomes, including three hospitalizations and two deaths. After an inspection and temporary restaurant closure, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and Montana's Gallatin City-County Health Department collaborated with CDC to conduct a matched case-control study among restaurant patrons to help identify the source of the outbreak. Consumption of morel mushrooms, which are generally considered edible, was strongly associated with gastrointestinal illness. A dose-response relationship was identified, and consumption of raw morel mushrooms was more strongly associated with illness than was consumption of those that were at least partially cooked. In response to the outbreak, educational public messaging regarding morel mushroom preparation and safety was shared through multiple media sources. The investigation highlights the importance of prompt cross-agency communication and collaboration, the utility of epidemiologic studies in foodborne disease outbreak investigations, and the need for additional research about the impact of morel mushroom consumption on human health. Although the toxins in morel mushrooms that might cause illness are not fully understood, proper preparation procedures, including thorough cooking, might help to limit adverse health effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

True morels (Morchella spp.) are renowned for their aroma and taste, and hot air drying is widely used to extend the shelf life of harvested morels. However, the effects of different drying temperatures on volatile flavor compounds and non-volatile metabolites in the morel are poorly understood. Here, fresh morels (Morchella sextelata) were air-dried at low (45 °C, LT), medium (55 °C, MT), and high temperatures (65 °C, HT). The volatile flavor compounds and non-volatile metabolites were analyzed using GC-IMS and LC-MS/MS, respectively. The GC-IMS revealed that aldehydes, hydrocarbons, and pyrazines increased at greater temperatures, while acids, alcohols, and esters decreased. Random forest machine learning indicated that 1-hexanol and ethyl 3-methylbutanoate were indicative flavor compounds at LTs, while those at MTs and HTs were hexanal and valeraldehyde, respectively. Greater temperatures reduced acetic acid, an unpleasant sour flavor. The LC-MS/MS showed that the relative abundance of amino acids and nucleotides increased with the temperature, with the same trend in 5′-nucleotides and flavor amino acids. Sorbitol 6-phosphate was indicative of the non-volatile metabolites at LTs, while several amino acids were indicative at MTs and HTs. This study revealed the flavor and taste characteristics of morels dried at different temperatures, providing a theoretical reference for establishing a standardized postharvest morel drying process and maintaining morel quality.

Morels are one of the most highly prized edible and medicinal mushrooms worldwide. Therefore, historically, there has been a large international interest in their cultivation. Numerous ecological, physiological, genetic, taxonomic, and mycochemical studies have been previously developed. At the beginning of this century, China finally achieved artificial cultivation and started a high-scale commercial development in 2012. Due to its international interest, its cultivation scale and area expanded rapidly in this country. However, along with the massive industrial scale, a number of challenges, including the maintenance of steady economic profits, arise. In order to contribute to the solution of these challenges, formal research studying selection, species recognition, strain aging, mating type structure, life cycle, nutrient metabolism, growth and development, and multi-omics has recently been boosted. This paper focuses on discussing current morel cultivation technologies, the industrial status of cultivation in China, and the relevance of basic biological research, including, e.g., the study of strain characteristics, species breeding, mating type structure, and microbial interactions. The main challenges related to the morel cultivation industry on a large scale are also analyzed. It is expected that this review will promote a steady global development of the morel industry based on permanent and robust basic scientific knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ascomycetes in the genus Morchella (commonly called morels) have a considerable economic and biotechnological value for their culinary and medicinal proprieties. However, their biotechnological interest is not limited to the fruiting body cultivation, but also in mycelial production to obtain bioactive compounds and other biotech products. In order to better exploit the biotechnological potentialities of morels it is necessary to improve the knowledge on their biology and mycelial characteristics. In this paper morphological and growth characteristics of mycelia, as well as biomass formation of Italian collections of five edible medicinal Morchella species [M. esculenta (L.) Pers., M. dunalii Boud., M. importuna M. Kuo, O'Donnell & T.J. Volk, M. disparilis Loizides & P.-A. Moreau and M. purpurascens (Krombh. ex Boud.) Jacquet.] are presented.

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) India, harbours a rich diversity of mushrooms, but sporadic work has been carried out till date to explore the morel mushroom diversity. Besides, only a few morel species have been identified based on classical taxonomic studies, and taxonomic confusion exists regarding the differentiation and classification of morel mushrooms. Keeping this in mind, the present research aimed to analyse the geographical distribution and taxonomic revision of true morels from North Kashmir using modern phylogenetic tree analysis along with classical phenetic approaches. In this study, 11 collections of true morels, identified as Morchella esculenta, Morchella crassipes, Morchella vulgaris, Morchella tridentina, Morchella elata and Morchella kaibabensis, were found widely distributed in 16 sampling study sites. The true morels were found to be extensively distributed in the Kupwara district, followed by Baramulla, but were less common in the Bandipora district, J&K. To the best of our knowledge, the documented species M. vulgaris, M. tridentina and M. kaibabensis have not been recorded earlier from the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Wild edible mushrooms (WEM) are economically significant and used in traditional medicines worldwide. The region of Jammu and Kashmir (Western Himalayas) is enriched with the diversity of edible mushrooms, collected by the rural people for food and income generation. This is the first detailed study on diversity and ethno-medicinal uses of mushrooms from the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Methods Consecutive surveys were conducted to record ethnomycological diversity and socio-economic importance of wild edible mushrooms value chain in rural areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir during 2015–2019. Ethnomycological data were collected with a semi-structured questionnaire having a set of questions on indigenous mycological knowledge and collection and retailing of wild edible mushrooms. A total of 923 informants from the study area provided the results identifying the gender, type of mushroom species, medicinal uses, and marketing of mushrooms. Diversity of mushrooms was studied by using quadrat and transect methods. Principal component analysis (PCA) and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) were also applied to the dataset to analyse the relationship between species distribution, the underlying environmental factors, and habitat types. PCA identified the major species-specific to the sites and put them close to the sites of distribution. Results A total of 131 mushroom species were collected and identified during 2015–2019 from the study area. Ninety-seven species of mushrooms were reported new to the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The dominant mushroom family was Russulaceae with 23 species followed by Agaricaceae, 16 species. Major mushroom species identified and grouped by the PCA were Coprinus comatus, Lactarius sanguifluus, Amanita fulva, Armillaria gallica, Lycoperdon perlatum, Lycoperdon pyriforme, and Russula creminicolor. Sparassis crispa, Pleurotus sp, and Laetiporus sulphureus were recorded most edible and medicinally significant fungi. Morels were also expensive and medicinally important among all harvested macro-fungal species. These were reported to use against common ailments and various health problems. Conclusions Collection and retailing of WEM contribute to improving the socio-economic status, providing alternative employment and food security to rural people of the area. These mushrooms are used as a source of food and traditional medicines among the rural informants and could be used as a potential source of antibacterial and anticancer drugs in the future.

Morels are valuable mushrooms being used as foods and medical substances for a long history. The commonly cultivated morel species include M. eximia, M. importuna, and M. sextelata in China, M. conica and M. esculenta in the US. Morels' nutritional profile mainly consists of carbohydrates, proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and organic acids, which are also responsible for its complex sensory attributes and health benefits. The bioactive compounds in morels including polysaccharides, phenolics, tocopherols, and ergosterols contribute to the anti-oxidative abilities, anti-inflammation, immunoprotection, gut health preservation, and anti-cancer abilities. This review depicted on the cultivation of morels, major bioactive compounds of different morel species both from fruit bodies and mycelia, and their health benefits to provide a comprehensive understanding of morels and support the future research and applications of morels as high-value functional food sources.

The ascomycetes in the genus Morchella (commonly called morels) have a considerable economic and biotechnological value for their culinary and medicinal proprieties. However, their biotechnological interest is not limited to the fruiting body cultivation, but also in mycelial production to obtain bioactive compounds and other biotech products. In order to better exploit the biotechnological potentialities of morels it is necessary to improve the knowledge on their biology and mycelial characteristics. In this paper morphological and growth characteristics of mycelia, as well as biomass formation of Italian collections of five edible medicinal Morchella species [M. esculenta (L.) Pers., M. dunalii Boud., M. importuna M. Kuo, O'Donnell & T.J. Volk, M. disparilis Loizides & P.-A. Moreau and M. purpurascens (Krombh. ex Boud.) Jacquet.] are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morels are one of the most highly prized edible and medicinal mushrooms worldwide. Therefore, historically, there has been a large international interest in their cultivation. Numerous ecological, physiological, genetic, taxonomic, and mycochemical studies have been previously developed. At the beginning of this century, China finally achieved artificial cultivation and started a high-scale commercial development in 2012. Due to its international interest, its cultivation scale and area expanded rapidly in this country. However, along with the massive industrial scale, a number of challenges, including the maintenance of steady economic profits, arise. In order to contribute to the solution of these challenges, formal research studying selection, species recognition, strain aging, mating type structure, life cycle, nutrient metabolism, growth and development, and multi-omics has recently been boosted. This paper focuses on discussing current morel cultivation technologies, the industrial status of cultivation in China, and the relevance of basic biological research, including, e.g., the study of strain characteristics, species breeding, mating type structure, and microbial interactions. The main challenges related to the morel cultivation industry on a large scale are also analyzed. It is expected that this review will promote a steady global development of the morel industry based on permanent and robust basic scientific knowledge.

Transcriptomics was carried out to analyze the molecular mechanisms of browning that occurred in morels at the storage conditions of 20 °C and 4 °C. During storage, with the browning process, 14 significantly differential expression genes were found to relate to the browning process of morels. In which, 10 genes were upregulated and 4 genes downregulated, and they were mainly enriched in the tyrosine metabolism pathway, shikimate pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. Notably, the gene expression of the tyrosinase was largely upregulated after browning, compared to the fresh sample, which was also confirmed by qPCR validation. In addition, the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) were significantly increased, but activities and gene expressions of anti-oxidation enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were decreased after storage. These results indicated that Tyr/SK/MAPK metabolic pathways were important to the browning of morels. The reduced antioxidant capacity concomitant with the storage might also contribute to the browning process of morels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morels are highly prized edible fungi where sexual reproduction is essential for fruiting-body production. As a result, a comprehensive understanding of their sexual reproduction is of great interest. Central to this is the identification of the reproductive strategies used by morels. Sexual reproduction in fungi is controlled by mating-type (MAT) genes and morels are thought to be mainly heterothallic with two idiomorphs, MAT1-1 and MAT1-2. Genomic sequencing of black (Elata clade) and yellow (Esculenta clade) morel species has led to the development of PCR primers designed to amplify genes from the two idiomorphs for rapid genotyping of isolates from these two clades. To evaluate the design and theoretical performance of these primers we performed a thorough bioinformatic investigation, including the detection of the MAT region in publicly available Morchella genomes and in-silico PCR analyses. All examined genomes, including those used for primer design, appeared to be heterothallic. This indicates an inherent fault in the original primer design which utilized a single Morchella genome, as the use of two genomes with complementary mating types would be required to design accurate primers for both idiomorphs. Furthermore, potential off-targets were identified for some of the previously published primer sets, but verification was challenging due to lack of adequate genomic information and detailed methodologies for primer design. Examinations of the black morel specific primer pairs (MAT11L/R and MAT22L/R) indicated the MAT22 primers would correctly target and amplify the MAT1-2 idiomorph, but the MAT11 primers appear to be capable of amplifying incorrect off-targets within the genome. The yellow morel primer pairs (EMAT1-1 L/R and EMAT1-2 L/R) appear to have reporting errors, as the published primer sequences are dissimilar with reported amplicon sequences and the EMAT1-2 primers appear to amplify the RNA polymerase II subunit (RPB2) gene. The lack of the reference genome used in primer design and descriptive methodology made it challenging to fully assess the apparent issues with the primers for this clade. In conclusion, additional work is still required for the generation of reliable primers to investigate mating types in morels and to assess their performance on different clades and across multiple geographical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

【Objective】The present paper aimed to find an antimicrobial material that could be used to control the disease（rot disease caused by Diploöspora longispora） of morels. 【Method】Triclosan（TCS） was an antimicrobial agent widely used in oral care products and might have an inhibitory effect on the fungal disease of morels. The medium was prepared by adding different concentrations of TCS（0-100 mg/L）, with both sterilized and unsterilized treatments, the effect of TCS on the mycelial growth of Morchella sextelata and the inhibitory effect against undesired microbes in the medium were observed. Then, the sterilized medium with different concentrations of TCS（0-40 mg/L） were inoculated with D. longispora and M. sextelata, and the mycelial growths of the two strains were observed under different TCS concentrations, and the microstructure of D. longispora mycelium, M. sextelata mycelium and D. longispora spores were observed using a light microscopy. A preliminary comparative test of TCS spraying was conducted in the field. 40 mg/L TCS suspension was sprayed directly onto morels with symptoms of rot disease. 【Result】TCS was able to inhibit the growth of undesired microbes on unsterilized media. The mycelial length of D. longispora decreased with the increase of TCS concentration, and the conidia of D. longispora ruptured with contents exudation when the TCS concentration was 40 mg/L. In the preliminary comparative test, one week after the spraying of TCS, the infection range of D. longispora did not expand, and there was no spread of infection. 【Conclusion】 TCS can be tried as an antimicrobial agent for the control of rot disease of Morels at suitable concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wild edible mushrooms (WEM) are economically signifcant and used in traditional medicines worldwide. The region of Jammu and Kashmir (Western Himalayas) is enriched with the diversity of edible mushrooms, collected by the rural people for food and income generation. This is the frst detailed study on diversity and ethnomedicinal uses of mushrooms from the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Methods: Consecutive surveys were conducted to record ethnomycological diversity and socio-economic importance of wild edible mushrooms value chain in rural areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir during 2015--2019. Ethnomycological data were collected with a semi-structured questionnaire having a set of questions on indigenous mycological knowledge and collection and retailing of wild edible mushrooms. A total of 923 informants from the study area provided the results identifying the gender, type of mushroom species, medicinal uses, and marketing of mushrooms. Diversity of mushrooms was studied by using quadrat and transect methods. Principal component analysis (PCA) and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) were also applied to the dataset to analyse the relationship between species distribution, the underlying environmental factors, and habitat types. PCA identifed the major species-specifc to the sites and put them close to the sites of distribution. Results: A total of 131 mushroom species were collected and identifed during 2015--2019 from the study area. Ninety-seven species of mushrooms were reported new to the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The dominant mushroom family was Russulaceae with 23 species followed by Agaricaceae, 16 species. Major mushroom species identifed and grouped by the PCA were Coprinus comatus, Lactarius sanguifuus, Amanita fulva, Armillaria gallica, Lycoperdon perlatum, Lycoperdon pyriforme, and Russula creminicolor. Sparassis crispa, Pleurotus sp, and Laetiporus sulphureus were recorded most edible and medicinally signifcant fungi. Morels were also expensive and medicinally important among all harvested macro-fungal species. These were reported to use against common ailments and various health problems. Conclusions: Collection and retailing of WEM contribute to improving the socio-economic status, providing alternative employment and food security to rural people of the area. These mushrooms are used as a source of food and traditional medicines among the rural informants and could be used as a potential source of antibacterial and anticancer drugs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild–foraged mushrooms represent a natural resource that provides economic value to foragers through both market and nonmarket recreational channels. Despite the importance of non–timber forest resources for sustainable management of forestlands, little attention has been paid to who forages for wild mushrooms, why they choose to forage, where they go, and what economic value is generated. This report draws upon survey data from 78 foragers who are certified to sell their mushrooms and 85 noncertified foraging enthusiasts. Its goal is to understand foraging patterns and values for morels (Morchella spp.) in the State of Michigan (USA). Most foragers spend fewer than 10 days each year foraging, and those who sell their morels are most likely to sell to local restaurants, pubs and bars, and informally to their friends. Certified foragers who choose to sell their morels sell for an average price of $36 per pound ($36/lb) for fresh black or yellow morels. Costs to supply fresh morels ranged widely among the 16 certified sellers who reported full cost details; over 70% of morels were supplied at costs below $30/lb, but some certified sellers incurred costs in the hundreds of dollars per pound. Recreational morel gatherers paid $43 to $335 per trip of foraging morels, with a median value of $93 per trip. Morel foragers also search for other mushrooms with oyster mushrooms (Pleurtous spp.), chanterelles (Cantharellus spp), hen–of the–woods (Grifola frondosa), and chicken–of–the–woods (Laetiporus spp) being the most popular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Morchella has gone through turbulent taxonomic treatments. Although significant progress in Morchella systematics has been achieved in the past decade, several problems remain unresolved and taxonomy in the genus is still in flux. In late 2019, a paper published in the open-access journal Scientific Reports raised serious concerns about the taxonomic stability of the genus, but also about the future of academic publishing. The paper, entitled "High diversity of Morchella and a novel lineage of the esculenta clade from the north Qinling Mountains revealed by GCPSR-based study" by Phanpadith and colleagues, suffered from gross methodological errors, included false results and artifactual phylogenies, had misapplied citations throughout, and proposed a new species name invalidly. Although the paper was eventually retracted by Scientific Reports in 2021, the fact that such an overtly flawed and scientifically unsound paper was published in a high-ranked Q1 journal raises alarming questions about quality controls and safekeeping procedures in scholarly publishing. Using this paper as a case study, we provide a critical review on the pitfalls of Morchella systematics followed by a series of recommendations for the delimitation of species, description of taxa, and ultimately for a sustainable taxonomy in Morchella. Problems and loopholes in the academic publishing system are also identified and discussed, and additional quality controls in the pre- and post-publication stages are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sabuco Revista de Estudios Albacetenses is the property of Instituto de Estudios Albacetenses and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Morels are some of the most highly prized edible and medicinal mushrooms, with great economic and scientific value. Outdoor cultivation has been achieved and expanded on a large scale in China in recent years. Sclerotial formation is one of the most important phases during the morel life cycle, and previous reports indicated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role. However, ROS response mechanisms at sclerotial initiation (SI) stage are poorly understood. In this study, comparative transcriptome analyses were performed with sclerotial and hyphal cells at different areas in the same plate at SI stage. Gene expression was significantly different at SI stage between sclerotial formation and mycelia growth areas. GO and KEGG analyses indicated more vigorous metabolic characteristics in the hyphae area, while transcription process, DNA repair, and protein processing were enriched in sclerotial cells. Gene expression related to H2O2 production was high in the hyphae area, while expression of H2O2-scavenging genes was high in sclerotial cells, leading to a higher H2O2 concentration in the hyphal region than in the sclerotium. Minor differences were observed in gene expression of H2O2-induced signaling pathway in sclerotial and hyphal cells; however, expression levels of the target genes of transcription factor MSN2, important in the H2O2-induced signaling pathways, were significantly different. MSN2 enhanced stress response regulation in sclerotia by regulating these target genes. Small molecular HSPs were also found upregulated in sclerotial cells. This study indicated that sclerotial cells are more resistant to ROS stress than hyphal cells through transcriptional regulation of related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morels, fungi from the genus Morchella , are popular edible mushrooms. However, little knowledge of their asexual reproduction and inaccessible pure mitospores hamper illumination of their life cycle. Herein, we successfully induced conidiation, conidial germination and chlamydospore formation in pure culture of Morchella sextelata. Conidiation proceeded via four morphologically distinct stages: development of the conidiophore stalk, stalk branching, phialide differentiation, and conidium production. Terminal and intercalary chlamydospores were formed on conidial hyphae. The development of conidiophores occurred earlier, with more conidia produced, in cross-mating cultures than in single-spore cultures. Mature conidia were spherical and 2.5–8 μm in diameter, with a vast majority (nearly 99%) 2.5–5 μm in diameter. Each conidium contained one to three nuclei (80.2% conidia contained one nucleus, 19.1% contained two nuclei, and 0.7% contained three nuclei). The conidial nucleus diameter was 1–2 μm. The nuclear mitosis in detached conidia that was observed may benefit their colony initiation. Additionally, morel conidia formed conidial anastomosis tubes. Conidia (mitospores) likely not only function as spermatia, but also as reproductive propagules in Morchella. Further research is imperative to elucidate the relationship between the conidia and chlamydospores, and their unique function in the morel life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In present study, total phenolic compound, antioxidant activities and fatty acids of several Morchella species collected from different regions of Turkey were determined. Six species were detected, namely Morchella dunalii (HT562), M. purpurascens group (HT565, HT592, HT662, HT699), M. deliciosa (HT682), M. mediterraneensis (HT698), M. importuna (HT667, HT681) and M. esculenta (HT704). The highest phenolic content was determined in the collection numbered as HT565 (281.96 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry weight), followed by HT699, HT562, HT662, HT592, HT698, HT704, HT681, HT667 and HT682. Antioxidant activities were also evaluated by DPPH and FRAP assays and the maximum (0.51 and 1.04 mmol trolox equivalent (TE)/g dry weight respectively) was observed in HT565. The results for the fatty acids composition showed that assessed Morchella species were rich in nutritionally important unsaturated fatty acids and oleic acid, palmitoleic acid, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and myristic acid were the identified compounds. Linoleic acid was the most common in samples like HT565, HT592, HT704, HT662, HT682 and HT667 and followed by oleic acid except in HT565. In HT681, HT698, HT699 and HT562, oleic acid was dominant and followed by linoleic acid. The ratios of unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids were calculated as 10.79, 4.78, 6.80, 8.09, 6.67, 4.35, 8.70, 8.64, 7.90 and 7.43 in HT562, HT565, HT592, HT662, HT667, HT681, HT682, HT698, HT699 and HT704 respectively. The sampling locations and species of Morels had influenced the bioactivities and fatty acid compositions of specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mushrooms have gained great attraction not only for their nutritional and medicinal values but also for diversity of their bioactive components. Morchella esculenta, commonly called Morel, is an edible and nutritious mushroom. In the present study, we evaluated the radioprotective effect of cultured mycelium of M. esculenta against radiation induced damages in mouse spleen lymphocyte DNA and rat liver mitochondria. The mitochondria were exposed to 450 Gy γ-radiation and lipid peroxidation caused by radiation was studied by LOOH assay and TBARS assay. M. esculenta extract at a concentration of 200 and 50 μg/mL significantly inhibited the formation of LOOH and TBARS formation in mitochondria. The protective effect of M. esculenta against radiation-induced damage to DNA in the spleen lymphocyte was measured using comet assay. Spleen lymphocytes were exposed to χ-radiation at a dose of 6 Gy in the presence and absence of the extract and the strand break were analyzed. The extract inhibited the strand break significantly. The study indicate that M. esculenta mycelia protect mitochondria form oxidative stress and DNA from deleterious effects induced by radiation and has potential for the development of safe and non-toxic radio protector with significant nutritional properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morchella steppicola (Morchellaceae) Zerova is included in the main list of the Red Book of the Belgorod Region of the Russian Federation. It has been assigned category and status 3 - a rare species. However, information about it is clearly incomplete, which is due to the peculiarities of its phenology and ecology, as well as the lack of systematic research aimed at finding its existing habitats. At the beginning of the 2020 season, reconnaissance surveys of characteristic ecotopes revealed 2 new localities of Morchella steppicola in unknown habitats (in the Belgorod and Shebekinsky administrative regions). The article describes these habitats in connection with the available data on the occurrence and distribution of this species, both within the region and beyond. The fact that new habitats have been identified should in no way call into question that Morchella steppicola is a species in relation to which the recommended measures should be followed: preserving existing habitats and searching for new ones, taking the identified populations under territorial protection, monitoring the abundance in known habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild mushrooms are important in worldwide due to its importance in food and medicinal values. Mushrooms can be found in the year, generally in two distinct seasons. In the present study four different fungi were collected from the different regions of Himachal Pradesh. Tentative identification of wild mushrooms was done on the basis of macroscopic and microscopic features. Screening of ligninolytic enzyme activities were determined in four wild fungi Morchella sp., Ramaria sp. Helvella sp and Amanita sp. To investigate the activity of extracellular enzymes, cultures were incubated over a period of 20 days in nutrient rich medium (NRM) and (NPM) under static conditions. Enzymatic activity was varied with media and their incubation conditions. The results of the present study allow us to conclude that wild species of showed good production of ligninolytic enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is a mainland country rich in natural morel recourses, having records of half of the worldwide 61 morel phylospecies. In this study, 31 collections of ascocarps from the north Qinling Mountains, 4 collections of commercial cultivars from the south Qinling Mountains, and 3 Morchella mycelium clones from commercial cultivars were investigated using the genealogical concordance phylogenetic species recognition (GCPSR) method. Maximum-likelihood was employed for the construction of phylogenetic trees. A total of five phylogenetic species were found among the 38 collections, namely Morchella sp. Mes-8, Mes-9, Mes-13, and Mes-25, and Morchella chensiensis (IF556780), in addition to the false morel (Verpa bohemica). The identification of cultivated Morchella sp. Mel-2, Mel-6, Mel-10, and Mel-12 coincided with that of the commercial farms. A total of 80% (4/5) of yellow morels were new records for the Qinling region, except Mes-19; moreover, a novel monophyletic lineage, Morchella chensiensis, was found to be distinct from the previously reported phylospecies by single gene and combined genes analysis, thus being herein proposed as a new phylospecies. All collections from this study showed continental endemism, and all Qinling Mountains collections were grouped together in rDNA phylogenetic trees. The study provided insights on biodiversities in this key region of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was carried out to know the aboriginal usage of Morchella esculenta L. as an ethnomedicinal food by tribals of Kashmir, an extreme northern state of India for curing of arthritis, osteoporosis, general bone weakness and cure child labour pain and post menopause pain of women. The average long-life expectancy (~ 80 years) and delayed aging ensured the abundant use of M. esculenta L. as the bases of their daily foods as well as their traditional medicine. The antioxidant character of this mushroom was carried out by chemical and electrochemical assays. The chemical assay was done by DPPH, nitric- oxide, super-oxide scavenging and reducing power while as, electrochemical assay was done by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) using multi-wall carbon nanotube paste electrode (MWCNTPE) at 0.02 M acetate buffer (pH 4.5). The phenolic profiling of the mushroom was evaluated through Folin–Ciocalteu reagent using gallic acid/ascorbic acid as standard which were qualified and quantified by HPLC-UV technique, respectively. The IC50 values found were 57.02 µg ml−1, 58.02 µg ml−1 and 40.01 µg ml−1 for DPPH, nitric-oxide and superoxide. The electrochemical results have shown one oxidation potential at 1.12 V and positive potential at 1.119 ± 0.01 V in CV and 1.19 V in DPV. DPV at superoxide radical scavenging level of mushroom at dropping mercury electrode (DME) in 0.1 M KCl, produced a reduction peak potential at − 0.160 V. HPLC-UV have confirmed the presence of eight phenolic compounds namely, p-coumaric acid, tocopherol, catechol, rutin, hyperoside, quercetin, ellagic acid and cinnamic acid with quercetin at highest percentage (169.76%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • 30 metabolites and 4047 proteins were identified in morel. • The proteome of morel was reported for the first time. • The polar metabolites mainly related to the respiratory enzymes. • Results provide important information for the chemical compositions of morel. Abstract Morchella (morels) have been used as herbs throughout history, and current scientific research has confirmed their various health benefits. However, as an edible fungus, information regarding the chemical composition of morels is limited. In the present work, the metabolic and proteomic profiles of the cultured morel fruiting body (Morchella importuna) were investigated. The metabolic analysis, which was performed using a GC–MS protocol, identified 7 organic acids, 7 sugar alcohols, 6 monosaccharides, and 3 amino acids. In the shotgun proteome analysis based on the LC–MS/MS, a total of 4047 morel proteins were identified. Based on these omics data, an integrated analysis between the small molecule metabolites and the proteins (enzymes) in the morel fruiting body was performed. Results indicated that the taste of the morel was primarily due to polar metabolites, which were primarily related to respiratory enzymes. Besides, 139 carbohydrate-active enzymes and 10 browning related enzymes were found in morel, and would involve in the texture and color regulation of morel fruiting body. These results provide important information for the understanding of the edible qualities of the morel fruiting body. Moreover, the functional characterization of morel proteins may contribute to technologies for the preservation and processing of morels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides extracted from Morchella angusticepes Peck (PMEP) were chemically modified to obtain sulfated, carboxymethylated, and acetyled derivatives. Results showed that the acetyled derivatives with the degree of substitution (0.40 ± 0.07) exerted higher antioxidant ability than native polysaccharides, demonstrating inhibitory effects on growth of human hepatoma cells (EC50 = 0.710 ± 0.002 mg/mL) and human colon cancer cells (EC50 = 1.229 ± 0.008 mg/mL). It indicated that the acetylation was a favorable way to enhance the bioactivities of PMEP. Practical Application: Polysaccharides extracted from Morchella angusticepes Peck (PMEP) have many health‐promoting properties. Chemical modifications could improve the bioactivities of polysaccharides. We demonstrated that acetylation enhanced the cellular antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of PMEP. The results support further research that explores clinical utility, and may justify ex vivo and in vivo designs toward that end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Morchella angusticeps Peck has been recognized as a resource of nutraceuticals and drug discovery. Three acetylated polysaccharides (Ac-PMEP 1-3) with appropriate degree of substitution were obtained from Morchella angusticeps Peck, chemically characterized, and cultured with macrophage RAW264.7 cells to evaluate their immune activation and anti-inflammatory activities. Results of ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and fourier-transform infrared showed these modifications were successful. Compared with the control group, PMEP and Ac-PMEP 1-3 enhanced cell proliferation and the production of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α of RAW264.7 macrophages (cultured without lipopolysaccharide). Compared with PMEP, Ac-PMEP 3 enhanced cell viability and NO production by inducing the degradation of cytoplasmic IκBα and nuclear translocation of NF-κB subunit p65 as well as the expression of iNOS and phosphorylated-p38. Moreover, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, Ac-PMEP 3 showed a stronger ability to suppress the overproduction of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α by down-regulating the level of nuclear NF-κB p65, iNOS, and phosphorylated-p38 and inhibiting the degradation of cytoplasmic IκBα. Therefore, Ac-PMEP enhanced immune activation and anti-inflammatory activities via nuclear factor κB and p38/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Three acetylated polysaccharides (Ac-PMEP 1-3) with appropriate DS were obtained from Morchella angusticeps Peck. • Physicochemical analyses of Ac-PMEP 1-3 were determined by UV spectra and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. • Acetylated PMEP showed a stronger immune activation and anti-inflammatory activities than PMEP. • The immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities of PMEP and Ac-PMEP were mediated via NF-κB and p38/MAPK pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we investigated how the source of organic carbon (Corg) and nitrogen (Norg) affects the interactions between fungi of the genus Morchella and bacteria dispersing along their hyphae (fungal highways; FH). We demonstrated that bacteria using FH increase the hydrolysis of an organic nitrogen source that only the fungus can degrade. Using purified fungal exudates, we found that this increased hydrolysis was due to bacteria enhancing the activity of proteolytic enzymes produced by the fungus. The same effect was shown for various fungal and bacterial strains. The effect of this enhanced proteolytic activity on bacterial and fungal biomass production varied accordingly to the source of Corg and Norg provided. An increase in biomass for both partners 5 days post-inoculation was only attained with a Norg source that the bacterium could not degrade and when additional Corg was present in the medium. In contrast, all other combinations yielded a decrease on biomass production in the co-cultures compared to individual growth. The coupled cycling of Corg and Norg is rarely considered when investigating the role of microbial activity on soil functioning. Our results show that cycling of these two elements can be related through cross-chemical reactions in independent, albeit interacting microbes. In this way, the composition of organic material could greatly alter nutrient turnover due to its effect on the outcome of interactions between fungi and bacteria that disperse on their mycelia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The continuous worldwide increase of consumption of fresh mushrooms has registered in the recent years. The major goal of this study was to determine the microbiological characteristics of wild edible mushrooms and effect of temperature during storage of Morchella conica. Methods: Wild mushrooms of the species Boletus edulis, Cantharellus cibarius, and Leccinum aurantiacum were collected in a mixed forest of Picea abies, Betula pendula, and Pinus sylvestris located in Tartu territory, Estonia. Faecal indicators, potential pathogens, spoilage bacteria, and microfungi (yeasts and moulds) were evaluated. M. conica was microbiologically investigated for 24 days under different thermal regimes, including 4, 8, 12, 15, 20, and 28 °C. The statistical analysis was conducted with SAS 9.2 software. Results: The microbial counts of wild mushrooms, ranging from 6.81 to 7.68 log10 CFU/g for total mesophilic count, were generally higher (p<0.05) than those registered for marketed samples ranging from 4.60 to 7.39 log10 CFU/g. The dynamics of total mesophilic microorganisms on M. conica stored at different temperatures indicated that stationary and death phases occurred earlier with increasing temperature and that the highest levels were registered at 28 °C at the 2nd day of storage. Conclusion: This work highlights consistent differences in terms of microbiological properties among different mushrooms species. The results clearly showed that total mesophilic populations developed at high levels quickly at temperatures more than 15 °C, but also the refrigeration did not stop the microbiological decay of mushrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was well-known that Morchella esculenta has a life cycle including vegetative hyphae, sclerotia, primordia, and fruiting bodies, but there is no report yet about the influence of mycelial mass on fruiting process. Since 2014, we have developed an ELISA method to detect the content of Morchella esculenta. In this study, we utilized this method to measure the mycelia content, and find the correlation between mycelial content and fruiting in the wild. The study demonstrated the changes of mycelial concentration at different location around fruiting spot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants and mushrooms bioconcentrate metals/metalloids from soil and water such that high levels of potentially neurotoxic elements can occur in cultivated and wild species used for food. While the health effects of excessive exposure to metals/metalloids with neurotoxic potential are well established, overt neurological disease from prolonged ingestion of contaminated botanicals has not been recognized. However, the presence of metal elements may affect levels of botanical neurotoxins in certain plants and mushrooms that are established causes of acute and chronic neurological disease.

The postharvest senescence of morels was observed to be easily affected by temperature fluctuations. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of various storage temperatures on the postharvest senescence of morels. The study evaluated the variations of water content, respiration, nutrients substances, cell membrane permeability, and volatile compounds in morels stored at 20 °C and 4 °C. Results showed that low-temperature storage suppressed the loss of water and firmness, delayed the time of respiration and ethylene peak, and reduced the loss of nutrients and cell membrane permeability. Furthermore, the content of volatile compounds increased and then decreased during storage. The characteristic aroma substances of 1-octen-3-ol were identified using odor activity values and OPLS-DA analysis. The study observed a decrease in the content and changes of aroma compounds during low-temperature storage. This decrease may be attributed to the decreased activities of lipoxygenase (LOX) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morchella esculenta protein hydrolysate (MPH) from a valued medicinal and edible fungus M. esculenta (L.) is an excellent material for functional food development. To promote MPH utilization, selenization of MPH was performed by applying a simple and environmentally friendly microwave irradiation procedure. The physicochemical characteristics of selenized MPH (Se‐MPH) were investigated by SEM‐EDX, FTIR, CD, and amino acid analyzer, and its biological activity were assessed by ABTS, DPPH, H2O2 scavenging, and reducing power assays, as well as α‐glucosidase, α‐amylase, and tyrosinase inhibition tests. The results showed that MPH was successfully selenized, Se content in Se‐MPH reached 59.0 ± 0.64 mg/g, and amino groups, hydroxyl groups, and sulfur atoms of methionine residues in the MPH molecule may participate in selenization. Furthermore, Se‐MPH exhibited significantly enhanced antioxidant, antidiabetic, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities, compared with the native MPH and microwave‐irradiated MPH. Thus, the microwave‐assisted selenization is a feasible strategy for preparing organic Se and improving the biological activity of MPH. Practical Application: In this study, selenized Morchella esculenta protein hydrolysate (Se‐MPH) was successfully prepared via conjugation with sodium selenite using the microwave‐assisted method. The results showed that Se‐MPH, synthesized with the aid of microwave, exhibited favorable selenium content and improved antioxidant, antidiabetic, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. Therefore, microwave can be employed as an innovative and effective avenue for the production of organic selenium in nutraceutical and functional food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morchella species are known as famous and prized edible fungi due to their culinary flavor and medicinal properties. The asomata are collected throughout the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Morchella spp. taxonomy has long been debated as a result of the high phenotypic plasticity charaterizing the genus. Most morels are considered saprobic but some species has been reported to interact with roots of many plant species forming different types of associations. In Emilia-Romagna (Italy), morels became a part of the culinary tradition, especially for the populations of the coastal areas. This work aimed to describe and identify the ascomata collected on the white dune habitat as well as to verify the extent of the interaction with plant species growing in the same area. All ascomata collected since 2001 shared a similar morphology with a range of variability mainly due to the harvesting period. Ascomata collected in 2017 were grouped within the Mes-17 clade, in the Esculenta group, based on their ITS rDNA sequences. Nine different plant species were found to be connected with morel ascomata through characteristic sand-mycelial structures never described before. The amount of the ascomata collected on the sand dunes demonstrates that the study area is particularly suitable for morel fruiting. Therefore, the protection of the dune system is imperative for preserving Morchella genetic diversity within the local population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morchella protein hydrolysate (MPH) is produced from an edible and medicinal fungus, Morchella esculenta (L.), and exhibits antioxidant activity. In order to further improve the antioxidant activity of MPH, glycosylation of MPH was conducted by applying response surface methodology via the Maillard reaction (MR). Optimum glycosylation conditions were confirmed as: xylose/MPH mass ratio of 3.7:1, pH 11.80, and reaction time 60 min. The glycosylation of MPH under these optimized conditions was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. In vitro antioxidant activity tests showed that glycosylated MPH had significantly enhanced antioxidant activities compared to the native MPH, heat-treated MPH, or a MPH-xylose mixture. Collectively, these results indicate that glycosylation by the MR can improve the antioxidant activity of MPH, making it a novel source of natural antioxidants with excellent developmental prospects as a functional food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Oxidative stress is considered to involve cell death in severe pulmonary diseases like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Polysaccharide FMP-1 from Morchella esculenta can exert significant antioxidant activity. However, its effects on alveolar epithelial cells remain unperceived. Herein, the effects of FMP-1 against H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative damage in human alveolar epithelial A549 cells were investigated. FMP-1 could inhibit H 2 O 2 -induced cytochrome C and Caspase-3 release to prevent cell apoptosis via attenuation of MDA and ROS levels, and enhancement the enzymatic activities of SOD and T-AOC. Furthermore, the underlying molecular mechanisms were clarified. The phosphorylation of AKT and the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 were observed to be promoted by FMP-1 as well as the level of HO-1. These findings suggested that FMP-1 attenuate cellular oxidative stress through PI3K/AKT pathway, and FMP-1 could be explored as natural potential antioxidants to lower oxidative stress relevant to the progression of IPF. Highlights • Polysaccharide FMP-1 from Morchella esculenta could inhibit H 2 O 2 -induced cell apoptosis. • FMP-1 alleviated H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress in alveolar epithelial A549 cells. • FMP-1 exerted excellent protective effects through PI3K/AKT/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies of true morels (Morchella) in North America, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru led to the discovery of four undescribed species of Morchella. Two new species in the Elata clade, one from the Dominican Republic, initially distinguished by the informal designation Mel-18, and a newly discovered sister species from northern Arizona, are now recognized. Mel-18 is described as a novel phylogenetically distinct species, M. hispaniolensis. Its sister species from Arizona is described as M. kaibabensis, also recovered as an endophyte of Rocky Mountain juniper. Two additional species in the Esculenta clade, M. peruviana discovered in Peru and M. gracilis (previously reported as Mes-14) from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Ecuador, are described as new. We also demonstrate that scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging of ascospores using rehydration/dehydration/critical point drying preparation techniques provides for enhanced resolution of spore wall surfaces, thereby increasing the number of morphological traits available to assess differences among otherwise closely related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference in amino acid composition between the cap and stem of Morchella esculenta -- a wild edible mushroom from the Batak Mountain, Bulgaria. The amino acid composition was determined by Q Exactive mass analyser equipped with TurboFlow LC system and IonMax II electrospray ionisation module (ThermoScientific Co, USA). Data acquisition and processing were carried out with XCalibur 4.2 software package. Twenty free amino acids, histidine, arginne, aspargine, glutamine, serine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, threonin, glycine, proline, tyrosine, valine, methionine, leucine/isoleucine, phenylalanine, orndihydrochloride, tryptophane, lysine, 4-hydroxyproline and γ-amino butyric acid were determined in mushroom cap and stem. The total free amino acid (TAA) content of the cap was 26.17 mgkg-1 and that of the stem -42.75 mgkg-1. The essential to total amino acids ratios of the cap and the stem were 0.15 and 0.25, respectively. The most substantial difference between Morchella esculenta cap and stem was established in omithine -- 263%, followed by serine -- 18.93% and aspargine -- 20.28%. The smallest differences in the amino acid composition between cap and stem were demonstrated in proline -- 102.77% followed by glutamine -- 104.33% and glumatic acid -- 93.12% Of all 20 amino acids, only 6 were found in larger amounts in the cap than in the stem. The results showed the free amino acid content of the analysed wild edible mushroom was considerable, and that they may be important compounds contributing to the typical mushroom taste, nutritional value, and potent antioxdant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]