Molina, R.; Amaranthus, M.; Pilz, D.; Fischer, C. 1996. Commercial harvest of edible ectomycorrhizal fungus sporocarps from Pacific Northwestern forests: ecological and management implications. In: Azcon-Aguilar, C.; Barea, J. M., eds. Mycorrhizas in integrated systems from genes to plant development: Proceedings of the fourth European Symposium on mycorrhizas; 1994 July 11-14; Granada. Brussels: European Commission: 561-564.
Edible sporocarps of many ectomycorrhizal fungi are highly prized by different cultures. The decline offavorite edible species in some countnes, however, has created a market demand for these wild fungi from countries wherethey remain plentiful. These economic forces have led to development of a multimillion dollar industry of wild mushroomharvest from the extensive ectomycorrhizal forests of western North America: approximately 1.300.000 kg were harvested in1992. This paper discusses ecological and management implications of this commercial harvest on ectomycorrhizal fungiand focuses on current research aimed at develOping management guidelines for protecting the mushroom resource andensuring a sustainable harvest.
Keywords: mushrooms. sustainability, forest management. Cantharellus, matsutake