Mushrooms beyond our plates

Have you ever seen mushrooms? Not on your plate!But in your garden or in a forest? These fascinating organisms belong to an entirely different kingdom, called Kingdom Fungi which was classified in the 1960s. Technology was so advanced that we landed on moon same period while we were unaware about where to place Fungus in classification system. Ironically they were placed in plant kingdom, but fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants. As these are Non photosynthetic and contains chitin which is also present in animal cell. 

So, what are these mushrooms? A Marathi myth keeps describing it as "kutrya chi chatri" or "dog's umbrella." Well, such is the little-known part of the story about organisms. Most of us just keep seeing mushrooms as something in our food, but scientist estimates tell us that more than 25,000 species exist worldwide. They are part of an order much larger in a group of fungi, with more than 2 million species worldwide. Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies in the fungal family that produce spores for their reproductive purposes. They grow in wet, rainy conditions and come in different types, although most of them are edible and the rest are poisonous. Fungi grow through mycelium, which is the network of roots that spread all over in the soil. This mycelium breaks down organic matter through the production of digestive enzymes, thus enabling fungi to absorb nutrients. Similar to a mobile network, mycelium connects trees and makes way for the mutual communication and interaction between them. In that network, researchers found that mycorrhizal relationships exist between fungi and trees in which essential nutrients are exchanged by fungus and in return they receive sugars from the trees. This relationship is a lifesaver for many ecosystems.

Do you think humans are the only one who know cultivation? Interestingly, farming is not an activity limited to humans. More than 200 species of insects, including ants and termites, engage in mushroom farming, cultivating fungi to feed their colonies. Ants and termite cultivate fungi by collecting plant material and taking it to their nest. They decompose this material creating moist environment in which fungus can grow. The insect colony feeds on the fungi, taking proper care of it for constant growth of fungus. Some species of snail are also known to cultivate fungus.

This is a highlight of the interconnections of our ecosystems and how we often lack awareness of the intricate relationships in nature. Mushrooms do not only benefit the environment but also have many more benefits for humans. They are used in pharmaceuticals and many other industries. No matter how small an organism may be, there is always something to learn and explore as the impact is significantly huge. The more we learn about mushrooms and fungi, the better we appreciate the role they play in supporting the delicate balance of life on our world.

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Mushrooms growing in Urban Gardens