Browsing by Author "Tibuhwa, Donatha D"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Detailed study of the Agaricus like mushrooms at Mwalimu JK Nyerere Mlimani Campus
    (www.iiste.org, 2014) Tibuhwa, Donatha D; Mwanga, Zuhura
    A 3 years survey was conducted from 2011 to 2014 during which 133 Agaricus-like mushrooms from different places in primary forests, fields and gardens of the University of Dar es Salaam, Mwalimu JK Nyerere Mlimani Campus were collected. Agaricus-like mushrooms are morphologically characterized by medium to large size basidiocarp on the central stalk that separates easily from the cap, free gills, presence of veil and chocolate brown basidiospores in mature specimens. Characterizing them using both macro-micromorphological features and molecular markers (ITS sequences), they were revealed to be 12 species belonging to two distinct genera Agaricus L. and Hymenagaricus H. The species Agaricus xanthodermus and one un-described were suspected poisonous, edibility of 3 species were known while the edibility of the rest were unknown. Based on the result finding, one Hymenagaricus and two Agaricus species are also proposed as novel species for scientific descriptions based on International Code of Nomenclature.
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    Folk taxonomy and use of mushrooms in communities around Ngorongoro and Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
    (BioMed Central, 2012) Tibuhwa, Donatha D
    Background: Maasai and Kurya form two main communities around the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania which are mainly pastoralists. Changing climate to excessive drought, have recently forced them to start practicing subsistence farming which is severely affected by wild animals. This study explored status of the folk taxonomy and uses of mushrooms in the two communities as a pave way for possibilities of introducing mushroom cultivation, an alternative crop which is hardly affected by wild animals. Methods: Folk taxonomy and use mushrooms by the Kurya and Maasai communities were investigated. Information was collected by face to face interviews with 150 individuals in 6 selected villages. Using descriptive statistics by Statistic Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 17.0, the demographic characteristics of informants were evaluated and cross relationships with the recorded data were analysed. Results: Kurya are mycophilic with 94% of the informants recognizing utilization of the wild mushroom either as foodstuff or as tonics while the Maasai are mycophobic with 99% being unaware of the edibility of mushroom although 28% recognized mushrooms as tonic. For both communities, the knowledge of mushroom utilization and folk taxonomy increased with age of the informants, while it decreases with formal education level of the informants which imply that the basis of knowledge is mainly traditional. Comparing the two communities, the Maasai use mushrooms only for medicinal purposes and never sought them for food while the Kurya were well knowledgeable on the edibility and folk classification especially the Termitomyces species. Characters used in folkal taxonomy included color and size of the basidiomata, shape and size of the pseudorrhiza, habitats and edibility information. A new use of ascospores whereby they anaesthaesia bees during honey harvesting was discovered, and mushroom cultivation was widely welcomed (94.7%) as an alternative crop which is rarely affected by wild animals. Conclusion: In order to salvage a noted tremendous decrease of knowledge in mushroom utilization and folk taxonomy from vanishing, there is a need to document it throughout, and incorporate it in lower levels of our education system. Mushroom cultivation may possibly be the best alternative crop for the two communities thus should be advocated for improving livelihood and reduce human wildlife conflicts. The new recorded use of ascospores to anaesthaesia the bees during honey harvesting should be exploited and scaled up for sustainable integrated bee keeping and mushroom farming.
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    Morphology and Molecular taxonomy of Hymenagaricus mlimaniensis species nov: a new Basidiomycota from mlimani main campus, Tanzania
    (Academic Journals, 2014) Mwanga, Zuhura; Tibuhwa, Donatha D
    Hymenagaricus mlimaniensis Mwanga & Tibuhwa sp. nov. is described from Dar es Salaam Mlimani Main Campus in the semi protected natural tropical forest left in the Dar es Salaam city. The species superficially looks like Agaricus and its differences to the closest taxa in Hymenagaricus genus is both morphologically and genetically presented. The species is distinctively characterized from the closest H. pallidodiscus Reid & Eicker and H. alphitchrous (Berk. & Broome) Heinem by having the distinctive pink-reddish colour of the disc, more white diminutive fibril on the pink-reddish background, lack of developed cortinate veil, possession of smooth margin and microscopically, the presence of clamp connections which are lacking in the two closest taxa. This study thus, describe H. mlimaniensis sp. nov. as a new species in Hymagaricus genus based on both macro-micromorphology and molecular markers.
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    Substrate specificity and phenology of macrofungi community at the university of Dar es Salaam main campus, Tanzania
    (www.biosciences.elewa.org, 2011) Tibuhwa, Donatha D
    Objectives: Macrofungi substrate specificity and phenology are essential considerations for management of forest ecosystems. In this study, substrate specificity and phenology of macrofungi belonging to the Basidiomycota and Ascomycota groups collected at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) main campus, Tanzania were examined. Methodology and results: Macrofungi were collected throughout the campus during surveys done thrice per year (two rainy seasons, March-May, September- November, and one dry season July- August) from much 2008 to August 2011. Eight traditional morpho-groups based on fruiting bodies comprising more than 67 species distributed in 31 genera in 20 families were collected. The substrate specificity general trend showed that fungi prefer certain specific substrates. Puff fungi are restricted to the soil, fleshy fungi of the Lyophyllaceae on termite mounds soil, and jelly fungi restricted to tree logs although Agarics utilized all the substrates except the wood debris. Tree log substrate supported more macrofungi (28%) followed by soil (26%) and decaying leaf litter (22%). The live tree substrate supported least macrofungi (6%) followed by Wood debris (7%). The general phenology showed that polyporaceae and Ganodermataceae fruit bodies were the most frequently encountered throughout the year. The small sized species from litter-inhabiting genera such as Coprinus, Marasmius and Mycena fruited first with early rains compared to large sized fruit bodies. Conclusion and application of findings: The observation of early fructification relative to fruit body sizes supports the well known finding in the laboratory that the stimulation of fructification is preceded by a marked increase of vegetative growth for mycelia accumulation before being triggered to fruit. According to these study results, this phenomenon seems also important in situ to initiate fruiting of macrofungi. The outcome of this study will contribute to the mycological database for further research and widen the knowledge of biodiversity and substrate relationship which is an efficient parameter in establishing priority for evaluation, utilization and conservation for sustainable forest ecosystem management.
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    Wild mushroom- an underutilized healthy food resource and income generator: experience from Tanzania rural areas
    (BioMed Central, 2013) Tibuhwa, Donatha D
    Background: This study documents the use of a wild edible mushroom (WEM) in Tanzania rural areas and assesses its significance as a source of healthy food and income for the disadvantaged rural dwellers. Methodology: The data was gathered through local market surveys in order to conventionally identify different common WEM taxa using a semi-structured interview and it involved 160 people comprised of WEM hunters, traders and consumers. The collected data covered the information on where, how, when and who was the principal transmitter of the mycological knowledge learned and the general information on their market and values. Results: Results show that mushroom gathering is gender oriented, dominated by women (76.25%) whereas men account for 23.75%. Women possess vast knowledge of mushroom folk taxonomy, biology and ecology and are therefore the principal knowledge transmitters. It was also found that learning about WEM began at an early age and is family tradition based. The knowledge is acquired and imparted by practices and is mostly transmitted vertically through family dissemination. The results also revealed that 75 WEM species belong to 14 families sold in fresh or dry form. The common sold species belonged to the family Cantharellaceae (19) followed by Rusullaceae (16) and Lyophyllaceae (13), respectively. Collectors residing near miombo woodland may harvest 20–30 buckets (capacity 20 liters) and the business may earn a person about $400–900 annually. Conclusion: This finding envisages the purposeful strengthening of WEM exploitation, which would contribute significantly in boosting the rural income/economy and reduce conflicts between community and forest conservers. The activity would also provide alternative employment, improve food security to rural disadvantaged groups especially women and old people hence improve their livelihood.