LECTURES by an associated gathering of distinguished mycologists and ecologist scientists have revealed the depth of networking in the field of fungi and, in particular, native truffles.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Emeritus Professor Jim Trappe of Oregon State University, a world-leading mycologist, and his associate mycologist Todd Elliot from North Carolina, have just returned from a field expedition in the desert near Uluru, supported by Dr Lynette Liddle, a local researcher.
They had spent two days with female elders, in their 80s and 90s, searching for the native truffle these people traditionally harvested and ate as part of their seasonal diet.
An elder led them to a large truffle of a likely new species.
Professor Trappe will now do a full taxonomic investigation of this discovery.
If confirmed as new he will be asking permission from the elder to name it after her.
Professor Trappe and Mr Elliot also found time to identify 13 native truffle species in the Monga National Park, near Braidwood.
Two appear to be new species, to add to the 400 currently described. Dr Karl Vernes of the New England University was also present.
Dr Vernes’ field of research is small native animals and their importance to the health of our native forests.
Native eucalypts are dependent for nutrients on the mycelium of the truffle fungi.
The fungi create soil and are dependent on small marsupials digging up, eating and spreading the spore bodies to inoculate new trees.
The marsupials digging for food break up water repellent soils and bury fire fuel.
But the destruction of these little creatures by foxes and cat is changing everything for the worse.
The balance between our trees, truffles and native animals is being eroded badly.
Cats and foxes must be eliminated if we are to save our forest and woodland ecosystems from flood and fire.
This crisis issue deserves a national effort of the highest order.
Mr Elliot will commence research for his PhD later this year under the guidance of Dr Vernes at the University of New England.
He will continue to receive academic support from Professor Trappe.
Dr Vernes, Professor Trappe and Mr Elliot will research the role of the tree kangaroo and fungi in the tropical forest in PNG, micro-bat flight patterns under thermal imagery, nutrient access and soil building by fungal mycelia .
Professor Trappe has been visiting Australia for decades and has worked closely over that time with scientists from ANU on the Mulligans Flat predator proof bush rehabilitation project.
Also present was Professor Tim Roberts from the Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment at the University of Newcastle.
Professor Roberts is particularly interested in the role of mycorrhizals to enhance mine site rehabilitation and in the bio-geo-engineering work conducted by Terra Preta Truffles.
There will be a project afoot for collaboration between Australian scientists and the international mycologists, with the Auckland University and NZ Farm Forestry Association to study mycorrhizals in NZ forests.
Colin Samundsett, forester, is running a program to propagate and inoculate endangered tree species held at Hackfalls Arboretum NZ.
Other international visitors for the Braidwood Central School Truffle Festival weekend were Daisy and Ron Slowik and their son Bernard of Montana and Clarke Field Philippines.
The Rondeyvo-Crossfire Assistance Fund is financing research and community engagement in the development of oyster mushroom malarial mosquito traps at Bagio University, Philippines.
The Braidwood Central School Truffle Festival will occur again next year with an even greater emphasis on scientific research and education regarding the Australian bush environment.
