Ethnomycological Survey of Wild Edible Mushrooms (WEM) in the Two Municipalities in Marinduque Province, Philippines

Ethnomycological Survey of Wild Edible Mushrooms (WEM) in the Two Municipalities in Marinduque Province, Philippines

Arianne Grace M. Revilla1, Edwin R. Tadiosa2, Llyrha Mae M. Capio3, Minerva C. Arenas4, Sherwin P. Villavicencio5, Arnold Macdon Lazo, Jr.5, Regie Patulot5, Ireneo P. Villanueva5, Nina Jane Mendoza5, Ericka Roldan5, Frederick M. Ciriaco6 and Johnny A. Ching1

1 Biological Science Department, College of Science, De La Salle University- Dasmarinas, DBB-B, City of Dasmarinas, Cavite, Philippines 4114 *Email: ram0041@dlsud.edu.ph

2 College of Science, Bulacan State University-Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines *Email: edwin.tadiosa@bulsu.edu.ph

3 Life and Health Sciences Department, College of Allied Sciences, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute, City of Dasmarinas, Cavite, Philippines *Email: lemaghari@dlshsi.edu.ph

4 Biology Department, Institute of Arts and Sciences, far Eastern University, Nicanor Reyes Street, Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines *Email: marenas@feu.edu.ph

5 Provincial           Environment and     Natural           Resources     Office, Protected       Area Management Office, PENRO-PAMO, Marinduque, Philippines

6 Marinduque State University, Panfilo M. Manguera, Sr. Road, Boac, Marinduque 4900

Marinduque Province has been inhabited by people who have a long practice of wild edible mushrooms (WEM) usage as a source of food and medicine. With the utilization of WEM and agricultural land expansion, it threatens fungal diversity in the area. Hence, this study aimed at documenting the ethnomycological knowledge of the people in order to preserve the WEM and the indigenous tradition. Ethnomycological data were collected using interview surveys, focus group discussions, and walk-in-the-forest woods methods. Use value was computed to determine the most important macrofungus in the community. A total of 205 important wild mushroom species belonging to 89 genera and 45 families were identified. 25 of which were reported as WEM. However, only six species belonging to five families were identified and collected. The family Auriculariaceae had the highest representation with two species (33%), followed by Lyophyllaceae, Pluteaceae, Physalacriaceae, and Schizophyllaceae, each with one species (17%). Schizophyllum commune was the most important macrofungus in the two municipalities, with a use value of 0.75. The present study shows that two municipalities are rich in WEM diversity and indigenous knowledge. However, anthropogenic factors constitute the leading causes of loss to the indigenous tradition. While, poor conservation approaches threaten the survival of WEM. Thus, mushroom conservation effort is highly recommended.

Keywords: Ethnomycological knowledge, Indigenous tradition, Wild Edible Mushrooms