Professor of IPB: Mushroom, Forest Microorganism which was Rich Benefits
Indonesia was endowed with a vast and verdant tropical rain forest area throughout the year. One of the forest biodiversity was the forest microorganism (mushroom) that had negative and positive roles in maintaining the forest ecosystem. The positive role of the forest microorganism as the economic granary of the community, among others, as food, drugs, biopulping and gaharu stimulant.
Division of Forest Protection of Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry (Fahutan), Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) successfully utilized the antagonistic mushroom for the biological control of the forest pathogens (Trichoderma sp. and Pleurotus sp.), as well as the development of the local oyster mushroom isolates for the foodstuff (Pleurotus sp.).
“Our students even manage to locate the potential local food mushroom, that is the Morel mushroom (Morchella aff. Deliciosa) which is found in Mount Rinjani. This mushroom is the only one in the world and the price is expensive. In Pakistan, this mushroom is sold for 50 dollars per kilogram, but when it comes to supermarkets the price can reach 200 dollars,” said Permanent Professor of IPB, Prof.Dr. Ahmad in the press conference in the pre scientific oration in Campus of IPB Baranangsiang, Bogor (5/10).
Another positive role was as the decomposer or the decomposer of organic matters. The mushrooms could be associated with tree or plant roots known as mycorrhiza. The mycorrhiza was important for plants, because it could be a fertilizer provider for the trees they associated. There were also the mushroom that could be used as drugs, among other the mushroom tubes (ruffle).
“This tuber musroom is recommended by Rosulullah SAW. Al-kam’ah (tuber mushroom) is like manna, the water can be healthy eyes (Hadith Bukhari and Muslim). Another type of the mushroom used for the medicine is the ganoderma mushroom,” he explained.
Meanwhile, in his presentation, Prof. Ahmad also conveyed the future challenges in the utilization of the forest microorganisms. According to him, the microorganisms could also be used to select the disease-resistant tree that was by genetically altering the pathogenic microorganisms.
“When a new race of pathogen has been obtained that is the ability of isolates to make the host disease that has been resistant, then ‘the new race pathogen’ can be used to select various genotypes of the trees of the same kind. When it is obtained a tree which is resistant to disease, it can be used as a source of seedlings for planting in the next cutting cycle,” he said.(zul)
