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LITTLE ROCK – An employee of the Agriculture Division of the University of Arkansas expands the public's understanding of a modest but vital element of the ecosystem.
"The public should understand that it is part of the natural world. Without mushrooms like these, plantations will fail and the world will not have crops and forests, "he said." Mushrooms are an important link in the health of fields and forests.
Fungi form relationships with different parts of the ecosystem, which can be harmful or beneficial. "As pests, they can destroy crops and forests.These natural pathogens accelerate succession, allowing Successive species colonize the sites, "said Victor Ford, Acting Associate Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the Cooperative Extension Service of the Agriculture Division of the University of Toronto. Arkansas
As saprophytes, they degrade plant material and recycle nutrients, "he said." This process allows plants to be reabsorbed by living plants. This creates humus and increases soil fertility. "Mycorrhizal fungi form mycorrhizae that consist of a plant root and hyphae, a filamentous, filiform, vegetative, mushroom structure," explains Ford. "This relationship benefits the plant by taking more effective water and nutrients.Fungi also have antifungal properties that can prevent plant diseases.The fungus receives carbohydrates and vitamins from the plant. "
Ford was intrigued by mushrooms at a young age.
"I picked up morels in eastern Tennessee in the woods behind my parents' house." I've always been interested in learning how to identify things in nature. "
His passion flourished in college when he started working in a university lab.
"When I started my graduate studies on mycorrhizae, I started taking classes. on fungal taxonomy and ecology. I had the pleasure and privilege of working in the laboratory of the late Dr. Orson K. Miller, Jr. while I was at Virginia Tech, "he said. "Dr. Miller wrote the book "Mushrooms of North America". He was one of the giants of mushroom taxonomy. I understood this discipline very well and I particularly liked the work of microscopy.
Ford is actively raising public awareness of the importance of mushrooms.
"I make introductions to master gardeners and other people interested in mushrooms in the garden. I give lectures on the mushroom when demonstrating logs during field visits and meetings, "he said. "I'm doing a booth every year at the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show on Mushrooms."
Studying these mushrooms can be fascinating, especially if one likes to explore forest soils for different types of mushrooms
identify and place mushrooms in the right context with their environment, "said Ford. "I also love finding in the woods edible things that you can not buy."
Ford says that there are plenty of resources available for anyone interested in mushrooms.
"I recommend that people be interested in identifying mushrooms They join the Arkansas Mycological Society and pursue one of their incursions," he said. said.
Ford is working on many projects in the near future.
"I would like to look at the cultivation of lions, chickens, and various varieties of oyster mushrooms on logs. We need to test more strains of shiitake for the Arkansas climate, "he said.
These mushrooms have a peculiarity" Their lion's manes and their hen are easy to grow and delicious ". "The lion's mane looks like lobster. Both are desired by gourmet restaurants. "
Shiitake, a native fungus, is introduced into foreign climates for testing purposes.
" Shiitake is native to colder climates than Arkansas. In the 1980s, we discovered that there are varieties of shiitake that behave well in our climate and others that do not, "said Mr. Ford. "Shiitake is not native to North America.As new strains are introduced, they must be evaluated for our climate."
For more information on Mycological Association of North America and Mushrooms, visit: http://www.namyco.org/
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