STUDY ON SOME WILD MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS COLLECTIONS IN AGAEI EMIRATE NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

A study was conducted on some wild medicinal mushrooms collections in Agaei Emirate Niger State, Nigeria.Sampling was performed in the morning hours (between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.) when fruiting bodies were fresh and fully expanded.A purposive sampling approach was adopted.The research team walked through all representative habitats (covering an estimated 60-80% of the accessible village area) and collected every visible macrofungus fruiting body, regardless of its perceived edibility or medicinal value.Individuals with knowledge of mushrooms were interviewed to obtain local names and uses of the macro fungi, then recorded accordingly along with other relevant data.A total of 119 mushroom specimens were collected from five villages in Agaie Emirate.Highest collection was 25.2% each for Agaie yown and Ekosa.Medicinal mushrooms collected were from ten different species made of Lentinula edodes, Ganoderma sessile, Pleurotu sspp Trametes versicolor, Ganoderma applanatum, Podaxis pistillaris, G. tsugaie, Lycoperdon pyriforme G. lucidum and Daldinia concentrica.Highest abundant was G. lucidum and Podaxis pistillaris with 11.76%.. theleast number of species collection was recorded in Solawu with 11 members of the macro fungi.The study confirms availability and diversity of mushrooms in the Emirate and efforts must be made to prevent them from going into extinction in the area.