Importance and potential of tropical mushrooms

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The region between the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere (23.4 °N) and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere (23.4 °S) is defined as the tropics. The tropics encompass the largest range of climates and habitats on earth. Most of the ecological conditions present in the world can be found at climatic convergences of altitude and latitude in the tropics. Thus, significant areas of biodiversity are found in rainforests, dry deciduous forests, spiny forests, desert and other habitat types. Fungi have significant functions in ecosystems and are found in all kinds of environments. The many ecological and functional attributes of fungi are reflected in their great variety of forms and physiological and biochemical properties. Recent estimates of the number of fungi that exist on the earth are as many as 5.1 million species. It is estimated that fungi outnumber plants by at least 6 to 1. The significance of fungi for mankind has a long history. Fungi have been exploited in fermentation processes for thousands of years and mushrooms are known to possess pharmaceutical properties that are of major benefit to human health. It is thought that medicinal mushrooms and fungi produce over 125 medicinal functions. In the future, it is expected that additional medicinal substances and drugs may be found in, as yet, unidentified tropical mushrooms. Finally, an increasing number of edible and medicinal mushrooms of tropical origin are being commercially cultivated for food, dietary supplements and for medicine. eng