Fomes: A comprehensive review of traditional and modern biotechnological applications in medicine, food, and materials

Abstract

Fomes fomentarius, commonly known as the tinder fungus, has been extensively studied for its potential in a wide range of medical and biotechnological applications and its ethnomycological significance. Research has predominantly focused on this species, the other three species accepted within the genus—F. fasciatus from the Neotropics, F. inzengae from Europe and Asia, and F. graveolens from North America—remain underexplored in terms of their applications. Furthermore, in previous studies, three distinct lineages within F. fomentarius have already been identified. Through maximum likelihood analysis of a concatenated ITS + LSU sequence dataset, we also discovered five additional clades of potential unnamed taxa in Asia and Europe, as well as three distinct clades within the Neotropical specimens of F. fasciatus. Additionally, we have compiled a comprehensive list of known applications of F. fomentarius, and considering the taxonomic discoveries, some of these medicinal applications could correspond to other species. This review highlights the urgent need for thorough taxonomic studies to precisely define species as we explore their chemical, biological, and biotechnological potentials, emphasizing the importance of including specimens from underexplored regions such as the Neotropics.