|
Sillyputty67

Registered: 10/06/12
Posts: 2,239
Loc: Netherlands
Last seen: 9 years, 8 months
|
New fungus discovered in Fukushima 3
#18561182 - 07/15/13 09:17 AM (10 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0000379803
A fungus found in the village of Iitate, Fukushima Prefecture, in 2006 is a new species, it has been learned.
The fungus, named tsubugata-aritake, is a type of tochukaso, or caterpillar fungus, that grows and feeds on insects and is valued as an herbal remedy. The formal acknowledgment came as a German specialist journal on mycology carried a paper on the fungus earlier this month.
Unlike other caterpillar fungus in Japan, tsubugata-aritake is a “takeover” type that feeds on insects such as ants and cicadas that have already been parasitized by another tochukaso, scientifically termed Ophiocordyceps sinensis.
The Chinese and Tibetan caterpillar fungi that parasitizes larvae of ghost moths is well known as a Chinese medicine. According to the Japanese Society for Cordyceps Research, a society for caterpillar fungus researchers and enthusiasts, there are about 500 types of the fungi, 450 of which have been found in Japan, where research and studies on fungi are thriving and many new types have been discovered. In recent years, the caterpillar fungus has been attracting attention for use in health supplements.
“If it has any medicinal benefits, I’d like to commercialize it and donate sales profits to reconstruction [of the prefecture],” said Yoshitaka Kaitsu, a pharmacist in Date in the prefecture who discovered the fungus.
Kaitsu, the society’s vice chairman, has a good track record in finding caterpillar fungi. In 1986, he found another type of caterpillar fungus that also turned out to be a new species and was named “kobugata-aritake.”
The newly found fungus parasitizes a kobugata-aritake after the latter parasitizes an insect. It then turns everything into a caterpillar fungus of its own.
In 2010, a group of researchers led by Prof. Kiminori Shimizu of the Chiba University’s Medical Mycology Research Center used DNA analysis to determine that the fungus was a new species. The group, together with Kaitsu, sent their research paper to the German periodical and made the new fungus’ name public in the journal’s online edition on July 3.
“Most of the hitherto known ‘takeover’ types of caterpillar fungus were discovered in the tropical rain forest zone, in Amazon and Thailand, for example,” Shimizu said. “It’s very interesting that this fungus was found in Fukushima. We need to do further research and understand its ecology and distribution.”
So far, the fungus has been found only in Iitate. Caterpillar fungus prefers broad-leaved forests with trees 20 years or older, where the moisture is high and there are clearings without underbrush. Cradled among the hills along the Abukuma mountain range, Iitate seems to be an ideal location for the fungus.
Health food products that use caterpillar fungi as an ingredient are available from domestic manufacturers.
Entry into Iitate is restricted as the village remains affected by the nuclear crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant nearby. Still, the months of July to September are the best time for collecting caterpillar fungi.
“There may be unknown species in the village,” Kaitsu said.
-------------------- 1) Everything I ever posted or say is a lie.
|
Versicolor
♖♘♗♔♕♗♘♖



Registered: 05/04/11
Posts: 2,268
Loc:
|
Re: New fungus discovered in Fukushima [Re: Sillyputty67]
#18566370 - 07/16/13 11:39 AM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Any idea what the Latin name is?
|
Sillyputty67

Registered: 10/06/12
Posts: 2,239
Loc: Netherlands
Last seen: 9 years, 8 months
|
Re: New fungus discovered in Fukushima [Re: Versicolor]
#18566828 - 07/16/13 01:22 PM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Nope. just google news. I thought it was intriguing due to the fact that is has a relationship with cordyceps.
Like all that partial spore jargon. Im wondering if its just another cordyceps anamorph.
-------------------- 1) Everything I ever posted or say is a lie.
|
CidneyIndole
www.shroomery.OG



Registered: 05/16/05
Posts: 4,762
Loc: Love's Secret Domain
|
Re: New fungus discovered in Fukushima [Re: Sillyputty67]
#18571752 - 07/17/13 02:29 PM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Great-- radiation is going to create evil mutant predatory fungi that eats into people and takes over their brains.
This isn't going to end well.
-------------------- ------------------------ I am me. We are You.
|
|