OBJECTIVES:
To document indigenous knowledge of edible and medicinal mushrooms in four regions of Ghana
To characterize by phenotypic methods mushrooms collected from four forests in these regions
To determine the biochemical composition of these mushrooms in order to ascertain their biochemical components
To ascertain the quantity of antioxidants in the mushrooms
To cultivate five selected cultivable species on agricultural residues using the Juncao technology and plastic bag methods
To transfer technology to 100 youths in the communities of the four regions
WORK CARRIED OUT IN THE 2nd QUARTER, 2014
INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE OF EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS DOCUMENTED.
Indigenous knowledge of edible and medicinal mushrooms in communities around the Ayum forest in the Brong Ahafo region and Bia Forest Reserve in the Western region have been documented. A total of 761 questionaires were administered. Some of the questions asked were their perceptions about mushrooms, any uses they know of, how they came about that information etc. The results of this survey are being analyzed for a report/publication.
NUTRITIONAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF MUSHROOMS
Results for five cultivated mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus strain EM1, P. sajor-caju strain PscW, Lentinus squarrosullus strain LsF, Lentinus squarrosullus strain SqW, Auricularia auricula strain ApA) and two wild mushrooms (Termitomyces robustus strain TrA and Pleurotus tuber-regium strain PtA) sent to Mountain Research Centre (CIMO), ESA, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, apartado, Portugal for analysis on their nutritional and antioxidant activities were received and a paper titled ‘Evaluation of the chemical and antioxidant properties of wild and cultivated mushrooms of Ghana’ (Mary Obodai, Lillian Barros, Isabel C.F.R. Ferreira, Ângela Fernandes, Deborah L. Narh Mensah, Matilda Dzomeku, Arailde F. Urden, Juanita Prempeh, Richard K. Takli) has been submitted to Food Chemistry.
DATA ANALYSIS AND PUBLICATION
Narh Mensah DL, Obodai, M. (2014). Morphological characteristics of mycelia growth of two strains of the indigenous medicinal mushroom, Lentinus squarrosulus Mont.(Singer), on solid media. African Journal of Agricultural Research. 9(23):1753-1760.
WAY FORWARD (3rd quarter)
Mushroom Germplasm collection at Bia Forest Reserve in the Western Region
Visit of Brazillian Partners to Ghana to conduct a training programme and also to be involved in the collection and identification of Mushrooms from Bia Forest Reserve
Use of the newly constructed grass cutting machine for cultivation of mushrooms using the JUNCAO technology
