Characterization and production of shiitake (Lentinula edodes) in Mexico using supplemented sawdust

The cultivation of shiitake in Latin America started during the early 1980's, and several attempts for its commercial cultivation have been carried out during the last decade in Guatemala, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. However, a major constrain has been the lack of basic research, allowing further development. In this work, we studied two genotypes of Lentinula edodes (CP-7 and CP-163) selected from 16 strains being used in the region at different levels, in order to assess their mycelial growth rate in Petri dishes, as well as yield (biologic efficiency, production rate) and quality of fruit bodies, using 10 different formulations of supplemented sawdust from a common Mexican oak tree (Quercus acutifolia Neé). The best mycelial development was 8.5 mm/day for the genotype CP-163 cultivated on 70% Quercus sawdust, 10% corn-cobs, 10% maize stubble, 7% wheat bran and 3% rice meal. The highest yield was recorded in the genotype CP-7, using 60% Quercus sawdust, 28.5% corn-cobs, 10% maize stubble, 1.5% gypsum, thiamine (100 mg/kg), and magnesium sulfate (20 g/100 kg); reaching a biologic efficiency of 103%, a production rate of 1.3, and a high proportion (41.8%) of fruit bodies, having good commercial quality (41 to 70 g fresh weight, > 12 cm cap diameter and 96.5% of regular shape). On the basis of this study, this last genotype and formulation was recommended, as well as to establish a breeding program at the molecular level for shiitake production on a large scale in Mexico or other Latin American countries.Keywords: Edible mushrooms, genotypes, substrates, mycelial growth rate, biologic efficienc

Reviewing the use of resilience concepts in forest sciences

Purpose of the review Resilience is a key concept to deal with an uncertain future in forestry. In recent years, it has received increasing attention from both research and practice. However, a common understanding of what resilience means in a forestry context, and how to operationalise it is lacking. Here, we conducted a systematic review of the recent forest science literature on resilience in the forestry context, synthesising how resilience is defined and assessed. Recent findings Based on a detailed review of 255 studies, we analysed how the concepts of engineering resilience, ecological resilience, and social-ecological resilience are used in forest sciences. A clear majority of the studies applied the concept of engineering resilience, quantifying resilience as the recovery time after a disturbance. The two most used indicators for engineering resilience were basal area increment and vegetation cover, whereas ecological resilience studies frequently focus on vegetation cover and tree density. In contrast, important social-ecological resilience indicators used in the literature are socio-economic diversity and stock of natural resources. In the context of global change, we expected an increase in studies adopting the more holistic social-ecological resilience concept, but this was not the observed trend. Summary Our analysis points to the nestedness of these three resilience concepts, suggesting that they are complementary rather than contradictory. It also means that the variety of resilience approaches does not need to be an obstacle for operationalisation of the concept. We provide guidance for choosing the most suitable resilience concept and indicators based on the management, disturbance and application context

ESICM LIVES 2016: part two : Milan, Italy. 1-5 October 2016.

Meeting abstrac