Mushroom Diversity of Dhenkanal District, Odisha, India: Source of Alternative Foods and Medicines

Aims: The demand for nutraceutical and their products are increasing in modern era throughout the world. The prime sources of nutraceutical are floral & faunal wealth including microbial diversity. Among them, wild mushroom play a vital role and provide food for local communities which have medicinal values too. Keeping this in view, an attempt has been taken to enumerate the wild mushroom available in Dhenkanal district of Odisha state.

Place and Duration of Study: The survey was carried out in selected areas of Dhenkanal district of Odisha state in 2019 and species are photographed followed by identification using Flora’s book and available literature.

Results: Survey revealed that 60 species of wild mushrooms are recorded belonging to 33 genus and 25 families. It was observed that 10 species are edible and consumed by local communities rest are poisonous or bitter which could be used to isolate bioactive compounds to treat lethal disease.

Conclusion: The present study highlights the diversity of wild mushroom in Dhenkanal district of Odisha and their food & medicinal potentials for future nutraceuticals & pharmaceuticals.