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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.

The medicinal tinder polypore Fomes fomentarius is widely distributed in all floristic regions of Armenia on different woody substrates. The phylogenetic analysis of Armenian collections using ITS barcoding revealed that it is taxonomically complex species represented by sublineages A2 and B2 (in ratio 1:1) of European phylogenetic lineages A and B, which correspond to two cryptic sympatric species F. fomentarius sensu stricto and F. inzengae, respectively. These species are phylogenetically almost equidistant from Fomes fasciatus by the level of nucleotide divergence (6.75% and 7.17%, respectively). Nucleotide divergence between these two species is 1.85% which does not exceed the average level of intraspecific ITS variability in basidiomycetes fungi (3.33%). It is suggesting that F. fomentarius s.s. and F. inzengae are possibly not taxonomically separate species, but sympatric cryptic subspecies of F. fomentarius sensu lato. Both taxa significantly differ by their ecology and distribution: F. fomentarius s.s. is mainly found on Betula spp. trees and widespread in temperate forests, while F. inzengae has been recorded on Carpinus sp., Fagus sp., Populus sp. and other deciduous trees in subtropical latitudes. In Armenia, F. fomentarius s.s. was found on Fagus sp. and Quercus sp., while F. inzengae - on Carpinus sp., Juglans sp., Fagus sp., Populus sp., and Salix sp. trees. Although the species rank of Mediterranean subtropical species F. inzengae remains disputable it has been originally described for the mycobiota of Armenia.

The edible and medicinal agaricoid and polyporoid mushrooms (phylum Basidiomycota, order Agaricomycetes) have long been known by humans as valuable food and medicines. They are producers of different groups of high- and low-molecular weight bioactive compounds (alkaloids, phenolics, polysaccharides, proteins, terpenoids, vitamins etc.) with around 130 therapeutic effects, including neuroprotective. Mushroom-derived biotech products are reported as effective neuroprotectants, however their potential to prevent or mitigate several neurodegenerative pathologies, such as Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases, epilepsy, depression and others has not been fully explored. This review discusses the neuroprotective potential of Agaricomycetes fungi and possibilities for their application as natural neuroprotectants.