Three edible wild mushrooms from Nigeria: their proximate and mineral composition.

The pilei (caps) and the stipes (stalks) of the button and early open-cap (cup) stages of Lentinus subnudus, Psathyrella atroumbonata and Termitomyces striatus were assayed separately for their proximate and mineral composition. The differences observed in the contents of some of the proximate components seem to be related to species and mushroom parts. P. atroumbonata was richest in crude and true protein, L. subnudus was richer in crude fiber, ash and carbohydrates. Mineral contents appeared to be dependent on type and parts of the mushrooms analysed. The three mushrooms were good sources of magnesium, zinc and iron. L. subnudus contained between 14.83 and 20.00 ppm of iron, P. atroumbonata contained between 20.01 and 22.09 ppm and T. striatus contained between 17.13 and 22.93 ppm of iron. The pilei of P. atroumbonata and T. striatus are very good sources of zinc. Zinc contents for the pilei of P. atroumbonata were 63.81 and 64.94 ppm respectively. Zinc contents for T. striatus were 90.45 and 92.49 ppm respectively.

Studies on some edible wild mushrooms from Nigeria: 1. Nutritional, teratogenic and toxic considerations.

The biological value of 5 mushrooms Chlorophyllum molybditis, Psathyrella atroumbonata, Termitomyces robustus, Termitomyces striatus and Volvariella esculenta from our collection of wild edible mushrooms were determined using weanling rats. C. molybditis supported rapid growth with PER (2.63) higher than the casein control (2.50). P. atroumbonata was average in biological performance (PER 1.50) while T. robustus and V. esculenta did not support growth at all. Rats on T. striatus dried at 60 degrees C for 48 h lost weight rapidly and showed pathological signs of toxicity by the second day. All rats on this diet died by the fourth day of the experiment. When the diet of T. striatus dried at 90 degrees C for about 8 h was fed, the rats gained weight marginally but all survived. Prolonged storage of T. striatus at 60 degrees C for 5-8 weeks also seemed to detoxify the poisonous component such that PER and NPR values were 0.8 and 2.0 respectively. 2 pairs each of adult rats fed C. molybditis and Tricholoma lobayensis diets for 10 days were mated. Rats of C. molybditis diet gave 5 and 6 litters each and only one of these litters seemed to have retarded growth. Rats on T. lobayensis diet did not produce any litters for 14 weeks but the female produced off-spring when mated with control male rats.