Edible below ground fungal fruitbodies in Greece

Greece is a country with dramatic geological relief which makes it one of the richest in biodiversity and habitat types countries in Europe. So far over 100 fungal species with below ground fruitbodies have been discovered in Greece, among them 13 new species for Science, confirming high diversity also in fungi. As we have just began to explore fungi with subterranean fruiting bodies, we are confident that many new species will be recorded in Greece in the near future. The protection of forest ecosystems is vital for hypogeous fungi, such as valuable truffles' conservation.

With the term "below ground fungι" we refer to fungi that form hypogeous or semi hypogeous fruiting bodies creating mycorrhizae, a symbiotic association between a fungus and a plant. Most hypogeous fungi form mycorrhizae, with few exceptions. A spherical potato-like shape, is the most common form of below ground fungal fruitbodies, resulting from their adaptation to the arid or semi-arid environments of the Mediterranean region. Edible below ground fungal fruitbodies are rich in nutrients and minerals. Minerals are higher in hypogeous fungi than in epigeous ones and plants.

Vasileios Kaounas, bkaounas@gmail.com, http://www.mycohellas.gr

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