Work

Mycoforestry with the Saffron Milk Cap (Lactarius deliciosus L.:Fr. S.F. Gray) and Its Potential as a Large-Scale Food Production System

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Mycoforestry, a farming system that produces edible fungi crops in forest plantations through controlled mycorrhizal symbiosis, has the potential to enhance biodiversity in forestry plantations and mitigate some of the negative impacts associated with modern agriculture, such as soil erosion, habitat degradation, and carbon emissions. Mycoforestry systems typically exploit a range of native fungi that can be inoculated into planting stock of commercial tree species, with biodiversity benefits delivered through expanded habitat provision for the fungi and a range of other organisms through alterations to stand structure. One mycoforestry system showing strong potential for commercial viability involves the cultivation of Lactarius deliciosus (L.:Fr.) S.F. Gray in Pinaceae plantations. This review aims to evaluate the benefits of mycoforestry systems with a focus on Lactarius deliciosus (L.:Fr.) as a case study. It will review the state of the art and discuss technical developments necessary for the successful large-scale application of mycoforestry systems.

Source: Diversity

DOI: 10.3390/d17120821

Authors: André Dhungana, Paul W. Thomas, Clare Wilson, Roy Sanderson, Alistair Jump

Institutions: University of Stirling, Newcastle University

Language: English

Topic: Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Life on land, Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,534