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Importance and Ecological Role of Mushrooms

Although often ignored, fungi play a vital role in our ecosystems. In addition, the biodiversity of these species is enormous, much greater than that of vascular plants. The article reviews some of the main characteristics of fungi, which should be taken into account in any conservation strategy.

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The beginning of the systematic study of fungi began 250 years ago, but these organisms have been known for thousands of years. Ancient peoples knew about biological fermentation. The Egyptians thought it was a legacy of the great god Osiris. The Greeks worshipped Dionysus and the Romans worshipped Bacchus and celebrated great feasts in which wine was abundant. Even the Indians of Mexico and Guatemala believe that the appearance of mushrooms such as Amanita muscaria is related to lightning and thunder. The role of mushrooms play in the religion and mythology of the tribes of Mexico and Guatemala is documented by Lowy.

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The number of known mushrooms is high (> 130,000 species).

Activity and Ecological Role

Most known fungi live in nature on dead organic matter, apolitically and therefore their main ecological role is the degradation or decomposition of these substrates, recycling and returning to the soil or other environments, the basic nutrients. Due to the great degrading capacity of fungi, more than 8,000 species are harmful to plants, colonize manufactured or natural products, from food and grains to paper, wood, hydrocarbons, plastics, leather, pharmaceuticals, paints, aero combustibles, etc.. Mushrooms in other aspects are highly advantageous in food (mushrooms of edible hats), in the maturation of cheeses, in the fermentation and elaboration of drinks (beer, wine), bread and also in the pharmaceutical industry in the production of antimicrobials, in the elaboration of ergometrine and cortisone and some vitamin preparations.

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They are destructive and beneficial to agriculture. They are responsible for large economic losses caused by damage to crops, affecting crops, sometimes make their contribution to the decomposition of cellulose, returning nutrients to the soil and contributing to plant growth.

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Most of the microorganisms that live in the soil are fungi. In fact, there have been counts that give figures between 20,000 and 1 million fungal individuals per gram of soil. Fungi are of vital importance to ecosystems. They are the primary decomposers of organic matter. Like bacteria, insects and worms recycle nutrients in nature and release these substances for use by other organisms. In addition, the fungi prepare the soil for other organisms such as plants or other kinds of fungi, this process is known as ecological succession.

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The colonization of the mainland by plants might not have been possible without the help of fungi, which symbiotically installed themselves in the incipient roots of these primitive plants and helped them to obtain the water and minerals they previously absorbed more easily into the oceans.

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Today, about 90% of terrestrial plants have fungi in their roots, this relationship has the name of mycorrhiza. The fungi grow around the roots of plants passing to these nutrients like phosphorus, while the plant supplies the carbon fungi; both are needed to live and develop. Fungi help plants withstand adverse conditions, such as drought, lack of nutrients in the soil, and attack by bacteria or insects.

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Fungi also play the role of population control, parasitizing plants and animals. For example, those of the genus Cordyceps, parasitize insects that can be considered pests.

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