ABSTRACT
The chapter embodies nutritional profile of 20 wild edible mushrooms of North India, which include Lentinus cladopus Lèv, L. connatus Berk., L. sajor-caju (Fr.) Fr., L. squarrosulus Mont., L. torulosus (Pers.: Fr.) Lloyd, Termitomyces badius Otieno, T. heimii Natarajan, T. mammiformis Heim, T. medius Heim & Gasse, T. microcarpus (Berk. & Br.) Heim, T. radicatus Natarajan, T. striatus (Beeli) Heim, Macrolepiota dolichaula (Berk. & Broome) Pegler & Rayner, M. procera (Scop.: Fr.) Sing., M. rhacodes (Vitt.) Sing., Pleurotus cystidiosus O.K. Miller, P. floridanus Singer, P. pulmonarius (Fr.) Quél, P. sajor-caju (Fr.) Sing. and P. sapidus Quél., with respect to their carbohydrates, crude fat, proteins, fibers, ash, minerals, heavy metals and vitamins contents. Carbohydrate constitutes the largest fraction of mushroom dry matter ranging from 33.3% in Termitomyces medius to 89.10% in Lentinus cladopus. Maximum percentage of crude fat (3.4%) has been documented in Macrolepiota procera, while minimum amount (0.48%) was observed in Lentinus connatus. Protein percentage is maximum in Termitomyces medius (46.2) and minimum in Lentinus connatus (0.525). The percentage of fiber ranged from 1.83 in L. squarrosulus to 8.0 in Termitomyces mammiformis. The ash content was within 1.03% (Pleurotus pulmonarius) to 12.13% (Termitomyces striatus) range. Moisture percentage ranged from 4.168% in Lentinus cladopus to 8.8% in Macrolepiota procera. There is no set pattern in the presence and the amount of different minerals documented. Macro and micro elements which have been evaluated include Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Se and Zn. Amongst the evaluated minerals K and Na were not detected in species of Macrolepiota Sing. and Termitomyces R. Heim while Mn and Se were not detected in the species of Lentinus Fr. and Pleurotus (Fr.) P. Kumm. Amongst the heavy metals As, Hg, and Cd was detected in the species of Macrolepiota and Termitomyces, although the amount was within the permissible limit for human consumption. None of the species of Lentinus and Pleurotus tested positive quantitively for As, Pb, Ag, Hg and Sn. As far as vitamins are concerned in some species of Macrolepiota and Termitomyces, the presence of retinol, thiamine and riboflavin has been documented while substantial amounts of ascorbic acid has been reported in the species of Macrolepiota, Termitomyces, Lentinus and Pleurotus.
