Wild mushroom productivity in timber plantations: a case study of Pinus radiata in Galicia, north-western Spain
Abstract
Aim of study: (i) to evaluate wild mushroom productivity in a fast-growing Pinus radiata D.Don stand managed under four thinning treatments; (ii) to determine allometric relationships for seven mushroom species as a tool for future non-destructive inventory of fresh weight yield; and (iii) to compare the total productivity of two species of Boletus for three classes of sporocarp quality and the relationship with fruit development and size. Area of study: Pinus radiata thinning trial, Bóveda Communal Forest, Begonte, Galicia, north-western Spain. Material and methods: The productivity of seven marketable and two additional edible wild mushroom species was evaluated in a thinning trial in a Pinus radiata D.Don stand aged 32 years at the end of the observations. Sample plots of 20 × 20 m were evaluated over a period of 6 years (4 plots), 4 years (12 plots) and 2 years (12 plots). Four thinning treatments were applied in the plots: no thinning (control); light thinning from below; moderate thinning from below; and selective thinning. The mushroom inventories began 8 years after the last thinning operation. Average dimensions and allometric relationships of sporocarps were determined for seven mushroom species. The distribution of three quality classes of two Boletus species was also determined. Seasonal patterns of productivity of commercial species were established, with Boletus pinophilus Pilát & Dermek being the only species producing fruiting bodies in spring. Main results: The following marketable species were identified, in decreasing order of productivity: B. pinophilus, Hydnum repandum L., Lactarius quieticolor Romagn., Imleria badia (Fr.) Vizzini, Boletus edulis Bull., Suillus luteus (L.) Roussel and Tricholoma portentosum (Fr.) Quél. Two edible non-marketable species Clitopilus prunulus (Scop.) P. Kumm. and Laccaria amethystina Cooke were also identified. The total yield of edible species was 58.5 kg ha-1 year-1 and the thinning intensity did not have a significant effect on the total edible or marketable mushroom productivity, which was more affected by the distance of the plot relative to the edge with firebreaks. The average size of sporocarps, in terms of both weight and diameter, decreased in the following order: B. pinophilus > B. edulis > S. luteus ≈ I. badia > Lactarius quieticolor > T. portentosum > H. repandum. The quality of boletes was closely related to the cap diameter, with the probability of occurrence of fruiting bodies with white hymenium and firm flesh decreasing in sporocarps larger than 7-8 cm. Quality classes 1 and 2 tended to be maintained for larger sizes of B. edulis than of B. pinophilus. Overall, 51% of the fresh weight of B. pinophilus harvested was classified in classes 1 or 2, whereas the corresponding figure was 69% for B. edulis. Research highlights: Mushroom productivity in the radiata pine stand under study was similar to the average values obtained for native pine species in Spain and may be relevant to the management of these fast-growing plantations.
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