GROUP 4 PROJECT

WAYS IN WHICH MUSHROOMS CAN SAVE THE WORLD

By-Julie, Lynette, Yuvreet, Simone, Parita, Monica, Wendy

"The time to act is now. Waiting for science and society to wake up to the importance of these ancient Old Growth fungi is perilously slow and narrow in vision. The meager attempts thus far may be too little, too late. Unless we collectively pool our resources, the mushroom genome will become increasingly threatened, and therefore, our very existence may be at stake. The loss of these keystone organisms should be an ecological call-to-arms for all concerned about our children's future and the future of this planet.”

-Paul Stamets

Topic- Ways mushrooms can save the world

Question- In what ways and to what extent can mushrooms save the world?

INTRODUCTION

From something that is so small, so common, and insignificant to us and all the big troubles that the world face, comes groundbreaking advances and solutions.

Paul Stamets and his team of researchers have discovered the new technology of using mushrooms and fungi to help improve conditions, to improve the health of this planet.

Below, are some of the ways in which mushrooms can help save the world.

PAUL STAMETS

American mycologist, author Discovered four new species of mushrooms On the editorial board of The International

Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms Has written six books on mushroom

cultivation

WAYS IN WHICH MUSHROOMS CAN SAVE THE WORLD

Mycoforestry Mycomedicines Mycopesticides Mycoremediation

MYCOFORESTRY

Mycoforestry is the employment of fungi to sustain forest communities. It can be used to achieve the following: Enhancement of replanted trees Economic diversity Recovery and recycling of woodland debris Preservation of native forests Strengthening sustainability of ecosystems

1. ENHANCEMENT OF REPLANTED TREES AND ECONOMIC DIVERSITYo Reforestation efforts are greatly enhanced when mycorrhizae

are introduced to sprouting seeds or to the roots of young trees before or at the time of planting.

o Apart from the economic benefits of forests, the long term impacts like the climatic impacts and reduction of desertification play an important role to help us realize the significance of reforestation and more importantly, the role of fungi.

o For instance, the window of opportunity for harvesting timber is relatively short, and with each harvest, the soil is depleted.

o After 3 replantings, companies end up selling the land because the forth planting obviously won’t produce as much yield as the first three. But if high-value mushrooms such as matsutake are harvested, there is a steady rise in the economic benefits.

o This results in agriculture, without depleting the land of its nutrients. It can also be called sustainable agriculture

2. RECOVERY AND RECYCLING OF WOODLAND DEBRIS

After loggers haul trees away, vast debris fields remain behind. Until this wood debris decomposes, its biomass is locked away from the food web and is therefore unavailable to bacteria, protozoa, insects, plants, animals, and fungi.What if selectively introduce mushroom species such as saprophytic fungi, the first species to feed on dead wood? It will help speed up decomposition Triggers habitat recovery Decomposition cycles become

more balanced

3. PRESERVATION OF NATIVE FORESTS AND STRENGTHENING SUSTAINABILITY OF ECOSYSTEMS

Mushrooms become launching platforms for growth of bacterial populations

Bacteria regulate inputs and outputs of nitrogen

Mycelium absorbs phosphorus from its surroundings. It helps these mineral salts mover over distances. These salts are released when mushrooms rot or mycelium dies

Essential minerals like phosphorus, zinc and potassium are re deposited back into the nutritional bank

Ecosystems benefit from this cycling

catastrophes strike, saprophytes lead the way toward renewal

This supports construction of complex life-supporting soils

NOTABLE MYCORRHIZAE AND TREES THEY PREFER

Non-Gourmet Mycorrhizal Mushrooms

ENDOMYCORRHIZAE/ECTOCORRIHIZAE

Preferred trees

Glomus intradices Pisolithus Tintorius Rhizopogon parksii

Endomycorrhizae Endomycorrhizae endomycorrhizae

cedars, redwoods pines deciduous

Gourmet Mycorrhizal mushrooms

ENDOMYCORRHIZAE/ECTOCORRIHIZAE

Preferred trees

Boletus edulis allies Cantharellus

cibarius allies Hydnum repandum

Endomycorrhizae

Endomycorrhizae

Endomycorrhizae

Pine Oaks, firs Firs

* note: ENDOMYCORRHIZAE/ECTOCORRIHIZAE endomycorrhizae are also known as vescular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM)endomycorrhizae are more common than ectocorrhizae

EXPERIMENT: THE CORTES ISLAND MYCOFORESTRY RESEARCH PROJECT

In 2003, clear cut land purchase on Cortes Island, BC to demonstrate mycoforestry strategies that offer traditional forestry method (burning debris on clear-cut land)

Experiment compare the effects of introducing mycorrhizae and the effects of topdressing of wood chips as a source of delayed-release nutrients and to help retain moisture.

Objective: re-establish the old-growth forest for future generation

Sample 100 trees per test plot, profile by growth, needle development, overall health for next 100 years

By September 2004, sampled 700 trees with with/without mycorrhizal treatment. Result: 8 and 7% increase in height

Goal: observe effects of 4 treatment combo in which provide critical data for comparing mycoforestation strategies

MYCOFORESTRY: USING MUSHROOMS TO PREVENT FOREST FIRES

Causes of forest fires: Natural cause: lightning strikes, volcanic eruptions, combustion

of peat logs, meteorite impact Human cause: Recreationists (campers, anglers, berry pickers

etc), railway activities, humans made surrounding susceptible to fires as water used for agricultural/urban use, rotating tree crops thins soil

Forest fire disasters: Burnt landscape vulnerable to erosion Reduce forest fires will protect forests, firefighters, and houses

Forest fire prevention: Ecological benefit of wood-decomposing mycelium is that it

creates erosion-resistant soil Mulching reduces aerial wood debris in forests and increases

moisture retention; If mycelium-inoculated wood chips are used, further increasing moisture retention and reducing the threat of fire

Counter-Argument on wood chips: growing mycelium on wood chips increases global

warming Counter-counter argument:

Carbon dioxide does cause global warming, but the output by fungi is nothing like that generated by fires. Fungi recycle much of carbon dioxide gas back into the ecosystem

Benefit of leaving wood chips on forest floor Delay release of nutrients – to build soils Supporting microfiltration membranes that reduce

erosion and siltation Providing cavity habitats for diverse populations of

bacteria, fungi, plants, insects, and animals Moisture retention protection against forest fires

MYCOMEDICINES

Mycomedecines is the development of powerful and yet to be discovered antibiotics that are potentially highly active against viruses and biological warfare agents (use of biological weapons (bacteria, viruses) to harm people).

WHY MUSHROOMS WORK

Mushrooms show antibacterial as well as antiviral properties and to treat certain viruses and diseases, both are required.

Mushrooms have immuno-modulating and anti-inflammatory properties that can help the immune system respond without a malfunction.

HISTORY OF MYCOMEDICINES

Traditions of Native Americans: In history, polypores were being used to help against the diseases brought by the Europeans. These included Birch polypore, Reishi (Ganoderma resinaceum), Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor), Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) and Agarikon (Fomitopsis officinalis).

Many mycomedicines were referenced in European medical literature (will be mentioned with the type)

Modern research into mycomedicinals began in the late 1960's in Japan when a pioneer, Dr. Ikekawa saw that families of mushroom growers had significantly lower cancer rates than their surrounding communities.

TYPES OF MUSHROOMS Birch polypore (Piptoporus betulinus): A traditional dewormer (gets rid

of intestinal parasites) Tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius): Burn the flesh of wounds to

prevent bleeding or infection Both Birch polypore and Tinder fungus are polypores. Named because

they have pores instead of gills underneath. They are not poisonous, they grow on trees, dead or alive, and they are hard and fibrous so not usually edible. They are taken in the form of tea, or placed on a wound or over an aching body part.

Agarikon It was listed by Dioscorides in the Materia Medica in 65 B.C. as a treatment

for tuberculosis. K. Grzywnowics published an article in 2001 titled Medicinal mushrooms in

Polish Folk Medicine where he states that Agarikon tea was historically used in his country as a remedy for lung conditions, as well as rheumatoid arthritis, open bleeding and infected wounds.

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is known as the "Mushroom of Immortality". It is made reference to in Shen Nong's Herbal Classic from around 2,000 years ago.

Cordyceps: From the Tibetan plateau, infesting with parasites on silk caterpillars. Athletes to improve physical stamina commonly use it and historically it has been used as an aphrodisiac

Shiitake mushroom: One of the most researched mycomedicinals in the world. It has been used for many different reasons from energizing tonic to immune-booster and antibiotic with anti-tumor properties

CURRENT PROJECTS “Our team has isolated a two-molecule complex more than

twelve times more potent than cidofovir medication (for patients with AIDS) against pox viruses, with much less toxicity… We believe we have found a new antiviral medicine. ” Paul Stamets

Stamets teamed up with some US universities to test on mushroom-based compounds

Stamets currently has twenty-six strains of Fomitopsis officinalis (Agarikon)

In-vitro tests are being conducted to discover possible new medicines

“We have evidence that this fungus [Fomitopsis officinalis ] is dually active against DNA (pox, herpes) and RNA (flu) viruses. The anti-tubercular, anti-E.coli, and anti-staph effects are also being explored.”

Stamets and his team are also working on breaking new ground on Malaria and AIDS.

IMPLICATIONS OF MYCOMEDICINES Environmental

Many types of mushrooms are endangered Mushrooms like Agarikon can be used for many purposes and

can be studied much further, but it is very rare and close to extinction

The study of mycomedicines is in early stages so “preserving mycodiversity is very important, and this can only be preserved if the forests are too”

Economic Even though it could save money, mycomedicines cannot be

grown at home. They are best grown in laboratories to assure purity.

Social Discovery of a new antiviral medicine that is less toxic than

medicines we have now Scientists are working on finding cures for sicknesses and

diseases as mentioned in the current projects

MYCOPESTICIDES

A chemical-free alternative to controlling damaging insect species.

Manufactured products that contain living fungi and are used to control pests

Natural way for pest control Less toxic They are relatively specific,

generally affecting only the target pest and closely related organisms, in contrast to broad spectrum

The agents often are effective in very small quantities and often decompose quickly, generally lowering exposure and largely avoiding the pollution problems caused by conventional pesticides

Decreasing the use of conventional pesticides

Pathogenicity Toxicity/mutagenicity (due to

biologically active molecules synthesized by the pathogen)

Irritation Allergies Competitive displacement of

other (biocontrol) organisms Genetic instability of the

fungal biocontrol agent Undesirable microbial

contaminants during the production

Carriers, additives and adjuvants

Advantages Disadvantages

MYCOREMEDIATION

The usage of mushrooms to help: Break down toxins Rebuild soil Repair and maintain the balance of nature 

SOIL

The fungi produce oxalic acids, C2H4O4, which reacts with calcium, as well as many other minerals, to form calcium oxalate, CaC2O4. Basically, the acid produced by the mushrooms would be able to break down rock, to form soil.

The mycorrhizal forms billions of networks in soil, around the roots of many different plants.

The fungi increase absorption ability and capacity in the soil. It will be able to hold much needed water and nutrients, and aid the plants in the surrounding areas.

Due to its ability to form networks and its absorption ability, the fungi will be able to hold the soil together, and create a more ‘spongy’ soil. This type of soil would be able to be much better at avoiding erosion.

Better soil would be able to help with one of the world’s biggest crisis; scarcity of resources.

Better soil would lead to more luscious plants, better fertility. Extremely beneficial to the agriculture industry.

Anti-eroding soil would lead to a much better allocation of resources (one of the main economic, world goals). For example, much of north and western China – like many other places in the world - are in the process of desertification, leaving thousands of kilometres of land unusable, and uninhabitable. This fungi method would help combat the desertification, as it will help maintain moisture in the soil, allowing a diversity of plants to grow, which in turn would bring in bacteria, insects, birds, mammals, new ecosystems.

However, bringing in new ecosystems would possibly mean the destruction of the old ones, in which many other species of plants and animals could be lost. Also, new fertile land would lead to human exploitation of this land. The land could be used for agriculture, forestry, etc, which contributes to providing more resources. On the other hand, more land could also lead to more negative exploitation, leading to more pollution, creation of new disease, population problems, poverty etc. As much as the mushrooms, and other methods, will help save the planet, many other issues, social, political, ethical, economical, etc, must also be addressed and changed in order for these method to truly work.

BALANCE OF NATURE

Once again, the fungi are able to form billions of networks.

These networks form billions of pathways and thus the organism is able to ‘communicate’ with incredible speed. If one section is damaged or destroyed, the fungi are able to respond and quickly repair the damage.

The networks also communicate the availability of plant and animal debris. The mushrooms would break down the debris into essential elements of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, iron, etc, and redistribute it back into nature.

They are able to grow at the speed of ½ to 2 inches daily.

Due to this, fungi have the ability to quickly respond to natural disasters.

For example, strong winds and tornados wreak havoc throughout the land, things were upturned and scattered. The networks that the fungi make would be able to quickly repair the damage done to the soil, search and capture the debris and begin recycling them.

The fungi also help maintain pH levels in the soil. This helps to increase the usability of soils. They help restore the pH balance; in cases of natural disasters such as volcano eruptions, where the acidity of the soil renders it unusable. They also help maintain the pH in very common problems such as manure runoffs, acid rain, etc.

pHP

µg/gK

µg/gO.M.

%NO3-Nµg/g

NH4-Nµg/g

Commercially Available Potting Soil

5.7 2.5 83 12.0 .4 4.5

Composted Mushroom Cultivation Waste

7.0 224 547 28.2 28.8 18.1

TOXINS

Mushrooms will help combat another one of the world’s biggest problems – toxic waste.

It is discovered that Oyster mushrooms have the astonishing ability to break down heavy oils – petroleum, industrial oils.

These fungi are able to absorb the oil, produce enzymes that are able to break C-H bonds. They are able to turn the hydrocarbons in these oils into carbohydrates.

An experiment was done in the United States, where many different groups used different techniques to clean up the oil laden soil. The techniques included different bacteria, chemical agents, and of course, fungi. After 4 weeks, the fungi infested pile managed to destroy more than 95% of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, converted into nontoxic components, and the mushrooms were free from any traces of petroleum.

After 8 weeks, the mushrooms rotted, and attracted flies, small organisms, which attracted insects, which attracted birds. The birds brought with them different seeds, and plants began to grow. Soon enough, the pile became an ‘oasis of life’.

Different types of fungi were also soon to effectively eliminate E. coli and break down VX, an extremely toxic and difficult to destroy nerve gas agent.

Like everything else, this new technology will come with more social, moral, political, environmental responsibility. If most toxic waste can effectively be treated this way, then industries could possibly lose the incentive to work towards environmental ‘friendliness’, as there will be an easy solution to the problem. However, just because there is a solution, it does not mean that they have the privilege to continue creating increasing amounts of toxic waste. After all, resources, especially energy resources are scarce. The extracting, processing of them will still leave large impacts on the earth, no matter how easily we will be able to dispose of them.

TIES TO AIM 7

Applying students’ information

Communication technology Sent posts on Angel Sent a copy of the

same post by e-mail

TIES TO AIM 8

Environmental Implications- There is and

urgent need to save the world from environmental degradation.

In the various ways listed above, mushrooms help make this possible.

Economic Implications- Using mushrooms

not only helps protect the environment but also results in great economic profits.

Today, there rarely is a profit without adverse impact on the environment.

Mushrooms help make it possible.

Social and Ethical Implications –Mushrooms may help provide a safe, clean, and fast way to save the environment and the world. This new technology will bring new moral, environmental, and economical responsibilities to many different industries, and we must not abuse and misuse these new methods.

TIES TO AIM 10 All of the scientific

disciplines are interconnected. We cannot completely understand one without consulting and investigation another.

We must apply knowledge and methods from all disciplines to fully understand the things around us.

For example, the extent to which fungi are able to decompose heavy oils cannot be fully explained without the application of chemistry.

The idea of using fungi on these toxins would not have been thought of, without the experimentation and knowledge of biology.

ADRESSING INTERNATIONALISM Presently numerous environmental issues like

deforestation, environmental pollution, desertification, etc, trouble the world.

It also suffers from the scarcity of resources, such as food shortages, water shortages, etc. Mushrooms will help with better provision and allocation of these resources.

We need something that can tackle the current issues. Mushrooms plays and important role in the

environment, and provides a relatively fast solution to the world’s problems.

If mushroom practices like mycoforestry, mycofiltration, etc are used on a wide scale, it can play a great role in improving the environmental conditions.

However, it is not our only solution.

CONCLUSION

These fungi discoveries made by Paul Stamets and his team are making remarkable breakthroughs in the scientific community.

There are numerous species of mushrooms that provide a solution to many of the world’s problems.

These include; Mycoforestry, Mycomedicines, Mycopesticides, Mycoremediation, Myconol, Mycofiltration, and much more.

As of right now, they offer easy, simple ways to save the Earth. Methods that most people can afford to contribute to.

However, fungi are not the only solution we have to the world’s problems, nor will they be able to concur all of them.

Along with this technology, advances in other industries should be made and applied. Only together, will we be able to solve the crisises we are facing.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Mycelium Running-How Mushrooms Can Save The World by

Paul Staments "Paul Stamets on 6 ways mushrooms can save the world."

TED, Ideas Worth Spreading. Web. 4 Dec 2009. <http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_stamets_on_6_ways_mushrooms_can_save_the_world.html>.

Stamets, Paul. "Mycova, Helping the Ecosystem through Mushroom Cultivation." Fungi Perfecti. Fungi Perfecti LLC, Web. 4 Jan 2010. <http://www.fungi.com/mycotech/mycova.html>.