Molecular identification and proximate composition of wild edible wood growing mushrooms of Mizoram, North East India for food safety and livelihood

Exploring the nutritional attributes of wild edible mushrooms can be vital in addressing global food security. However, there is a dearth of studies on wild edible mushrooms regarding their identification, nutritional status, and molecular characterization in Mizoram, North East India, an integral landscape of the Indo-Burma hotspot region. In the present study, samples of wild edible wood-growing mushrooms were collected from the Mamit and Champhai District of Mizoram. The present study investigated the identities and phylogenetic relationships of the eight fungal species using molecular approaches. The mushrooms were identified up to the species level based on fungal sequences with known identities in GenBank, viz. Auricularia delicata, Laetiporus sulphureus, Panus roseus, Lentinus squarrosulus, Pleurotus cystidiosus, Pleurotus djamor, Pleurotus pulmonarius and Schizophyllum commune. Further, the identified mushrooms were analysed for macro and micro-nutritional values to assess their suitability for human dietary intake. Results revealed that the collected wild edible mushrooms were rich sources of protein (17.79 - 36.46 g/100 g), carbohydrates (58.14 - 33.77 g/100 g) and fibres (5.63 - 8.32 g/100 g), while the amount of fat (1.93 - 2.77 g/100 g) was low. In addition to bio-molecules, the mushroom samples contained appreciable amounts of essential minerals. Therefore, the selected mushrooms can be used as a potential foodstuff and may also be used as a supplementary protein diet to maintain human health and help achieve food security and sustainable development goals. The present results encourage bio-prospecting, and the need to explore wild edible mushrooms further, especially in the least explored global biodiversity hotspots for sustainable livelihood.