Declining Wild Mushroom Recognition and Usage in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Declining Wild Mushroom Recognition and Usage in Burkina Faso. Ethnomycological investigation was carried out in Burkina Faso, West Africa, using standardized interviews focused on 40 representative mushroom species assembled in a traveling herbarium (photographs plus preserved specimens). A total of 540 informants from 18 localities representing three main ethnic groups-Mòosé, Bobo, and Gouin-were interviewed, though the bulk of those interviewed were Mòosé (or Mossi) from the more populous central region of the country. Among the study species, as many as 24 were considered edible by the different ethnic groups; a few medicinal uses also were noted. The edibility of a common Chlorophyllum species is confirmed for the three ethnic groups. Mushroom nomenclature is not well developed in any of the three groups as evidenced by the fact that many mushrooms, including some common edible species, do not appear to have specific local names, but are instead simply referred to by a general term for "mushroom." Preliminary observations about inter-ethnic variation in recognition, naming, and appreciation of mushrooms are noted. Older people recognized many more mushroom species than did younger people, and women appeared to be slightly more knowledgeable about mushrooms than men. The most important finding is that the gathering and consumption of wild edible mushrooms seems to be dying out in Burkina Faso, especially in the central part of the country, apparently because of declining mushroom populations resulting from disappearing forest habitats.

Local Perceptions of Food Plants in Eastern Burkina Faso

“…Therefore, they know and use more or less the same species. Other interview studies have shown gender and age differences, with men being more knowledgeable than women (Kristensen & Balslev 2003), women being more knowledgeable than men (Guissou et al 2008), differing views between men and women (Wezel & Haigis 2000), and old people being more knowledgeable than young people (Guissou et al 2008).…”

Assessing the toxicity level of some useful mushrooms of Burkina Faso (West Africa)

“…(Guissou 2005) and Phlebopus sudanicus and Chlorophyllum molybdites are two common wild mushrooms in Burkina Faso. An ethnomycological study through 5 ethnics groups showed that knowledge is actively disappearing from one generation to another (Guissou et al, 2008), mostly due to urbanization and modern schooling. Intoxications cases were not mentioned, but the notion of poisonous mushrooms clearly exists within local people (Guissou et al, 2008).…”

“…An ethnomycological study through 5 ethnics groups showed that knowledge is actively disappearing from one generation to another (Guissou et al, 2008), mostly due to urbanization and modern schooling. Intoxications cases were not mentioned, but the notion of poisonous mushrooms clearly exists within local people (Guissou et al, 2008). C. molybdites is a pantropical saprotrophic species that occurs predominantly along roadside and in man-made nitrogen-rich ecosystems .…”

“…Similarly, the edibility of Chlorophyllum molybdites in tropical Africa has been controversially discussed in literature. It is commonly consumed in Burkina Faso (Guissou et al 2008) and in Benin . At the opposite, Zoberi (1979) showed that this species is toxic and that its toxicity is due to the presence of an extremely thermolabile and water soluble alkaloid.…”

“…Consequently many misidentifications leading to fungi intoxications may occur. Because of the known toxicity of certain mushroom species, there is an important need to study the toxicity of some species whose food and therapeutic values were previously shown in Burkina Faso (Guissou et al 2008). The ultimate goal is to evaluate the potential risks of intoxication following their ingestion.…”