Ethnomycological survey of macrofungi utilized by ayta communities in bataan, philippines

Abstract

The Philippines is home to rich and diverse macrofungal species. Indigenous peoples are knowledgeable on macrofungi since they utilize these as food and medicine. However, ethnomycological knowledge has scarcely been documented in the Philippines. Thus, this study documented the macrofungal species utilized by Ayta communities as food and medicine in Bataan, Philippines. A total of 30 informants from the three Ayta communities participated in the survey. Most of the respondents belong the 26-45 year old age group. There were 15 species of macrofungi used by the three Ayta communities as food and medicines. However, only seven species of macrofungi were collected and identified. These edible species include Volvariella volvacea, Termitomyces sp, Auricularia polytricha, A. auricula-judae, Stereum sp., Schizophyllum commune and Ganoderma lucidum. Volvariella volvacea was the most important macrofungus in the three Ayta communities with the use value of 0.83. Ayta elders who reported the use of macrofungi as remedy for weakness, cough, common colds and poor eyesight. This documentation of ethnomycological knowledge provided a catalog of useful macrofungi of the Ayta. This can also serve as a physical record of their culture for the education of the future Ayta generation.