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Hypsizygus ulmarius

Hypsizygus ulmarius, also known as the elm oyster mushroom,[1] and less commonly as the elm leech,[2] elm Pleurotus, is an edible fungus. It has often been confused with oyster mushrooms in the Pleurotus genus but can be differentiated easily as the gills are either not decurrent or not deeply decurrent.[3] While not quite as common as true oyster mushrooms, they have a wide range globally in temperate forests.[4] The mushrooms and vegetative hyphae of this species have been studied in recent years for their potential benefits to human health,[5] and mycoremediation.[6]

Hypsizygus ulmarius
Hypsizygus ulmarius mushroom
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Lyophyllaceae
Genus: Hypsizygus
Species:
H. ulmarius
Binomial name
Hypsizygus ulmarius
(Bull. ex Fr.) Redhead (1984)
Synonyms
  • Agaricus ulmarius (Bull.ex.Fr.)
  • Lyophyllum ulmarium (Bull.) Kuhner
  • Pleurotus ulmarius (Bull.) P. kumm.
Hypsizygus ulmarius
View the Mycomorphbox template that generates the following list
Gills on hymenium
Cap is convex or depressed
Hymenium is adnate or decurrent
Stipe is bare
Spore print is white to cream
Ecology is saprotrophic or parasitic
Edibility is edible

Taxonomy and phylogeny edit

The taxonomic name of H. ulmarius means both “high up” (Hypsi-) and “yoke” (-zygus), referring to where the mushroom can be found attached to its host tree. The species name refers to elm (Ulmus spp.), a tree the fungus commonly grows on. This species was first described in 1791 as Agaricus ulmarius by Jean Baptiste Francois Pierre Bulliard, a French physician and botanist responsible for the first description of many species of fungi.[7] At this time, most gilled mushrooms were placed in this genus. With the creation of the genus Pleurotus by Paul Kummer for oyster mushrooms, this species was then named Pleurotus ulmarius. This was most likely due to the similar appearance of the fruiting body of these species. When famed French mycologist Robert Kühner revised fungi in the family Agaricales into more genera, the elm oyster mushroom was coined Lyophyllum ulmarium. However, this species was most recently moved to its current genus as Hypsizygus ulmarius in 1984 by Canadian mycologist Scott Redhead.[1] This move was based on ecological and morphological similarity to another species in Hypsizygus.

This final shift from Lyophyllum to Hypsizygus was supported by a later study comparing DNA for the large ribosomal subunit RNA coding region divergent domain (D2) of species in the genus Lyophyllum. Based on both culture morphologies and the phylogeny produced using the DNA, the authors agreed with Redhead's classification.[8] Further DNA evidence suggests that the genus Hypsizygus is polyphyletic,[9] however, meaning that these species lack a common ancestor in the current phylogeny. There is still much to learn about the phylogenetic relationship of the (currently three) species in the Hypsizygus genus.

Some texts also confuse this species with H. tessellatus due to their similar habitats and appearances.[10]

Morphology edit

The mushrooms of this species appear white to cream, and are relatively uniform in color throughout. The stipe extends perpendicular from the fungus's host tree and then bends vertically to form the cap. The stipe is bare of any rings or other features. Additionally, the stipe connects almost perfectly in the center of the cap. The cap itself is usually about 6–15 cm (2.4–5.9 in) in diameter, though it may be larger, and is convex with an incurved margin. Larger caps can appear to be depressed. They will be uniform and smooth, though they can become aerolate as they age.[11] The gills are "adnate or only very slightly decurrent" in contrast with the gills of the commonly confused Pleurotus spp., which are deeply decurrent.[3] The mushrooms of H. ulmarius are often found in clusters of 1 to 3, though there may be more on larger tree wounds.[4]

 
Artistic comparison between Hypsizygus ulmarius (top; 1-4) and Pleurotus ostreatus (bottom; 6-9).
 
Artistic drawing of (1) Hypsizygus ulmarius and (2) Pleurocybella porrigens.

Cultures of this species are known to produce both sexual and asexual spores.[8] The asexual arthrospores may be mono- or multinucleate.[12] There is conflicting data on the size of the sexual basidiospores of H. ulmarius, but the original description of the species by Redhead reports that they are usually about 5–7 micrometers in diameter. Their shape is subglobose to ellipsoidal.[11] The spore print of this species is white to pale cream.[3]

Ecology edit

The H. ulmarius mushroom commonly grows on tree species like elm, box elder (Acer negundo), and beech, though it may be found on other trees as well.[11][3] Elm oyster mushrooms are known to grow high up in the wounds or scars of the host tree. They are found in temperate forests across North America, Europe and Asia.[4] Despite how widespread they are, the mushrooms are relatively rare compared to their Pleurotus spp. lookalikes.

H. ulmarius is considered both a saprotroph[4] and parasite as it is not clear whether it feeds on live or dead tissue of its hosts, though it is found on live trees.[9] This species causes brown rot on damaged areas of its host species. Interestingly, however, this species also has a moderate ability to dissolve lignin, too, like a white rot fungus.[13] The fungus accomplishes this by using a complex suite of enzymes that dissolve both cellulose and lignin like laccase. It is not unheard of for brown-rot fungi to produce laccase,[14] an enzyme primarily involved in the lignin degradation process, but the fungus's use of the enzyme is rather uncommon. This production of a brown rot also helps differentiate the fungus from Pleurotus spp., which are mainly white rot fungi.

 
Elm oyster mushroom growing from a wound in a tree.
 
Hypsizygus ulmarius cultured on hay infused agar (left) and potato dextrose agar (right) after five days of growth at room temperature.

This species is also easily culturable on a variety of media types. It can also be grown in similar substrates as true oyster mushrooms: paper, straw, logs, etc.

Human uses edit

Culinary edit

Although many foragers feel that H. ulmarius mushrooms are tougher and do not taste as good as oyster mushrooms in the Pleurotus genus, they are still sought after in the wild. There are even commercially available kits to grow these mushrooms at home.[3] Like most edible mushrooms, they are good sources of protein, fiber, and Vitamin B.

Human health edit

There is both historical and modern interest in H. ulmarius’s possible medicinal applications, and most of these recent studies have been primarily performed in India. Studies have found compounds in both the mycelium and the fruiting body believed to be anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor[5] and antidiabetic.[15] It is considered a medicinal fungus in China.[16][17]

Mycoremediation edit

Mycoremediation refers to the breakdown and removal of toxins from the environment using fungi. H. ulmarius has the demonstrated potential to accomplish this in a couple different ways. For example, the fungus uses the enzyme laccase to help decompose the lignin in the tissue of its host tree. Because this enzyme has low substrate specificity, it may be used to biodegrade materials like plastics.[18] Scientists are researching what affects laccase production in order to take advantage of this enzyme’s many uses.[19] Additionally, laccase produced by H. ulmarius has also been shown to degrade different dyes, which could prove useful in treating water.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Redhead, Scott (1984). "Mycological observations 13-14: on Hypsizygus and Tricholoma". Transactions of the Mycological Society of Japan. 25: 1–9.
  2. ^ "The British Mycological Society". www.britmycolsoc.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Hypsizygus ulmarius, Elm Oyster mushroom". www.first-nature.com. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  4. ^ a b c d Stamets, Paul (9 March 2011). Mycelium running how mushrooms can help save the world. ISBN 978-1-60774-124-4. OCLC 1085878991.
  5. ^ a b Greeshma, Panavalappil; Ravikumar, Korattuvalappil S.; Neethu, Mangalathmelathil N.; Pandey, Meera; Zuhara, Karattuthodi Fathimathu; Janardhanan, Kainoor K. (2016). "Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antitumor Activities of Cultured Mycelia and Fruiting Bodies of the Elm Oyster Mushroom, Hypsizygus ulmarius (Agaricomycetes)". International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. 18 (3): 235–244. doi:10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v18.i3.60. ISSN 1521-9437. PMID 27481157.
  6. ^ a b G. Ravikumar (2013-01-28). "Effect of laccase from Hypsizygus ulmarius in decolorization of different dyes". Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science. doi:10.7324/japs.2013.30128. ISSN 2231-3354.
  7. ^ Histoire des champignons de la France (1780-1791).
  8. ^ a b Moncalvo, Jean-Marc; Rehner, Stephen A.; Vilgalys, Rytas (September 1993). "Systematics of Lyophyllum Section Difformia Based on Evidence from Culture Studies and Ribosomal DNA Sequences". Mycologia. 85 (5): 788–794. doi:10.1080/00275514.1993.12026333. ISSN 0027-5514.
  9. ^ a b Hofstetter, Valérie; Redhead, Scott Alan; Kauff, Frank; Moncalvo, Jean-Marc; Matheny, Patrick Brandon; Vilgalys, Rytas (December 2014). "Taxonomic Revision and Examination of Ecological Transitions of the Lyophyllaceae (Basidiomycota, Agaricales) Based on a Multigene Phylogeny". Cryptogamie, Mycologie. 35 (4): 399–425. doi:10.7872/crym.v35.iss4.2014.399. ISSN 0181-1584. S2CID 84983803.
  10. ^ "Hypsizygus tessulatus". www.messiah.edu.
  11. ^ a b c Redhead, S. A. (July 1986). "Mycological Observations 15–16: On Omphalia and Pleurotus". Mycologia. 78 (4): 522–528. doi:10.1080/00275514.1986.12025286. ISSN 0027-5514.
  12. ^ Dyakov, M. Yu.; Kamzolkina, O. V.; Shtaer, O. V.; Bis’ko, N. A.; Poedinok, N. L.; Mikhailova, O. B.; Tikhonova, O. V.; Tolstikhina, T. E.; Vasil’eva, B. F.; Efremenkova, O. V. (April 2011). "Morphological characteristics of natural strains of certain species of basidiomycetes and biological analysis of antimicrobial activity under submerged cultural conditions". Microbiology. 80 (2): 274–285. doi:10.1134/s0026261711020044. ISSN 0026-2617. S2CID 23573697.
  13. ^ Rajiv, Ranjini; Tallapragada, Padmavathi (2012). "Phenol tolerance and degradation profile of novel edible mushroom Hypsizygus ulmarius in ligninolytic and nonligninolytic media". International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences. 3 (4): 987–994.
  14. ^ D'Souza, T. M.; Boominathan, K.; Reddy, C. A. (1996-10-01). "Isolation of laccase gene-specific sequences from white rot and brown rot fungi by PCR". Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 62 (10): 3739–3744. Bibcode:1996ApEnM..62.3739D. doi:10.1128/aem.62.10.3739-3744.1996. ISSN 0099-2240. PMC 168181. PMID 8837429.
  15. ^ Meera, K. S., Sudha, G., Rajathi, K., & Manjusha, G. V. (2011). Antidiabetic effect of aqueous extract of Hypsizygus ulmarius on Streptozotocin-Nicotiinamide induced diabetic rats. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical & Biological Research (AJPBR), 1(2).
  16. ^ Dai, Yu-Cheng; Yang, Zhu-Liang; Cui, Bao-Kai; Yu, Chang-Jun; Zhou, Li-Wei (2009). "Species Diversity and Utilization of Medicinal Mushrooms and Fungi in China (Review)". International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. 11 (3): 287–302. doi:10.1615/intjmedmushr.v11.i3.80. ISSN 1521-9437.
  17. ^ Wu, Fang; Zhou, Li-Wei; Yang, Zhu-Liang; Bau, Tolgor; Li, Tai-Hui; Dai, Yu-Cheng (September 2019). "Resource diversity of Chinese macrofungi: edible, medicinal and poisonous species". Fungal Diversity. 98 (1): 1–76. doi:10.1007/s13225-019-00432-7. ISSN 1560-2745. S2CID 197592032.
  18. ^ Mayer, A (July 2002). "Laccase: new functions for an old enzyme". Phytochemistry. 60 (6): 551–565. Bibcode:2002PChem..60..551M. doi:10.1016/s0031-9422(02)00171-1. ISSN 0031-9422. PMID 12126701.
  19. ^ Ravikumar, G., Gomathi, D., Kalaiselvi, M. & Uma, C. (2012). Production, purification and partial characterization of laccase from the mushroom hypsizygus ulmarius. International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(3): B 355 – 365.
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