Nutritive Value of Common Wild Edible Mushrooms from Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Young and matured carpophores of twelve (12) common wild edible Nigerian mushrooms were collected from different locations at the southern part of Nigeria. These fungi were analyzed for proximate and mineral elements compositions. The results showed that all the tested samples contained appreciable amount of essential nutrients. Of the entire wild mushroom tested, T. globulus was the richest containing highest amount of protein, ash, calcium, phosphorus and iron. This was followed in order by T. microcarpus, V. esculenta, L. giganteum and L. pusilum (p<0.05). The highest amount of moisture (98.5%) was found in the matured fruitbodies of L. pusilum followed by A. polytricha (97.1%) and L. giganteum (96.9%). Lycoperdon giganteum contained greatest amount of soluble sugars and glycogen while V. esculenta was the richest in total lipid containing 17.7% of the mushroom dry weight. Generally, the young fruitbodies of all the tested fungal samples were found to be richer than the matured fruitbodies. This study also reveals that T. microcarpus, P. atroumbonata, L. pusilum and V. esculenta contained abundant amount of K, Na, Mn and Cu respectively.