Context:
Unpredictable weather patterns, early springs, and above-average temperatures have left gucchi mushroom hunters in distress.
Relevance:
GS III: Environment and Ecology
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Gucchi mushroom (morel)
- Health benefits
About Gucchi mushroom (morel):
- Gucchi mushroom, also known as morel, is a species of fungus in the family Morchellaceae of the Ascomycota.
- It has a pale yellow color with large pits and ridges on the surface of the cap, raised on a large white stem.
- The ideal weather conditions for the great morel include daytime temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius and nighttime temperatures between five and nine degrees Celsius.
- Gucchi mushrooms cannot be cultivated commercially and are found in conifer forests across temperate regions, particularly in Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, and Jammu and Kashmir.
- These mushrooms typically grow in clusters on decaying wood logs, leaves, or humus soil.
- The mushrooms may or may not grow in the same spot the following season, which makes the collection process more challenging.
- Gucchi mushrooms are known to be one of the most expensive varieties of mushrooms.
Health benefits:
- Gucchi mushrooms are rich in potassium, vitamins, and copper.
- They are a good source of vitamin D and various B-vitamins.
- The mushrooms are also high in antioxidants, which help prevent health issues such as heart diseases and diabetes by removing harmful reactive oxygen species from the body.
-Source: Down To Earth
