Browsing by Author "Dzomeku, Matilda"

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    Diversity and domestication of mushroom species in the Atewa forest reserve and Bia Biosphere, Ghana
    (Scientific African, 2023) Dzomeku, Matilda; Alemawor, Francis; Agbenorhevi, Jacob K.; Oduro, Ibok N.; Obodai, Mary; 0000-0002-6527-6978; 0000-0003-0985-8727; 0000-0002-8516-7656; 0000-0003-3731-2684; 0000-0003-0776-6095
    Edible mushrooms commonly found in forest reserves are important for food security but they are underutilized in Ghana. The Atewa forest reserve in the Eastern Region and Bia Biosphere in the Western Region are among the largest forest reserves in Ghana. However, human activities including illegal mining activities pose a threat to the existence of the rich mushroom diversity within these forests. The objective of this study, therefore, was to collect, characterize and domesticate mushrooms from the Atewa forest reserve and the Bia Biosphere. Wild mushroom samples were randomly photographed, collected, dried and stored. Edible and wild mushrooms were characterized morphologically and compared with literature. A total of 86 mushroom samples (comprising 45 from the Atewa forest reserve and 41 from the Bia Biosphere) were collected and identified. The two forest reserves contained a rich diversity of wild mushrooms namely: Cookeina speciosa, Marasmiellua inoderma, Auricularia cornea, Daldina concentrica, Pleu rotus sp. Polypores. Cultivated Auricularia auricula strain AUAT recorded the highest ash content (16.70%) while cultivated Ganoderma sp. strain GLB recorded the lowest ash content (5.12%). On the other hand, cultivated Pleurotus ostreatus strain POB recorded the highest fat content of 19.88% and cultivated Pleurotus saju-caju strain PSCAT gave the least value of 12.02%. Cultivated Auricularia auricula strain AUAT again recorded the highest protein value of 33.38% while wild Ganoderma sp. Strain GLB had the least protein value. A total carbohydrate level of 64.22% was observed in cultivated Ganderma sp. strain GLB. The highest oxalate content of 30.93 mg/100 g was recorded in cultivated Pleurotus ostreatus strain EM1 with cultivated Auricularia auricula strain AUAT being the least value of 4.73 mg. A high phytate value of 149.35 mg was observed in cultivated Auricularia auricula strain AUAT and cultivated Pleurotus saju-caju strain PLAT showed the lowest value of 31.60 mg/100 g. The present findings provide considerable data on fungal diversification, conservation and domestication as well as a reference point for future studies.
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    Studies on the Occurrence, Ethnomycology and Cultivation of Pleurotus Tuber-Regium.
    (2009-07-13) Dzomeku, Matilda
    Two hundred questionnaires were administered to people in ten selected villages in each of the Hohoe and Techiman Districts of the Volta and Brong Ahafo Regions respectively. Ten people from ten communities in each of the two districts answered the questionnaires. 52% of the respondents from the Volta Region were females with majority (30.7%) in the age group of 61-70 years while 70% of the respondents from the Brong Ahafo Region were females with majority (28.6%) in the age group of 41-50 years. Results from the questionnaires showed that the middle aged had more knowledge of Pleurotus tuber-regium than those from the other age groups. Respondents said ailments such as asthma, underweight in babies, boils, etc. are cured using the sclerotium of P. tuber-regium. Samples of P. tuber-regium were collected from the wild in both the Hohoe and Techiman Districts and the mycelia grown on different media and incubated at 25ºC, 30ºC and 35ºC. Potato Dextrose Agar and Wheat Dextrose Agar were the best growth media for P. tuber-regium at the optimum temperature of 35ºC. The result subjected to statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% significance level showed significance differences in the mycelia growth at the different temperatures for both strains of P. tuber-regium. The strain from the Hohoe District grew faster than that from the Techiman District. pH 6 supported the best growth rate for both strains. Light was not essential for the mycelial growth of both strains of P. tuber-regium. P. tuber-regium was grown on various agricultural wastes (sawdust, plantain leaves, water hyacinth and millet stalk) to determine their suitability for fruitbody and sclerotium formation. Sawdust and plantain leaves produced sclerotia which gave Biological Efficiency (B.E) of 99.65% and 62.05% respectively, but only plantain leaves produced fruitbodies with B.E of 54.47%. Fruitbody induction from sclerotia in soil was carried out in both cane baskets and plastic bowls to assess formation of fruitbodies. The cane basket recorded the fastest rate of induction. Plantain leaves contained the highest concentration of crude protein followed by wawa sawdust, millet stalk and water hyacinth. Cellulose and hemicellulose were most abundant in millet stalk followed by wawa sawdust and least in water hyacinth. Lignin was most abundant in wawa sawdust and lowest in plantain leaves.