Medicinal wood decay fungi on large old oaks in the Madonie Mountains (Sicily)

Periodic observations made on two 800-plus-year-old Quercus pubescens trees in the Madonie Mountains (Sicily) revealed the presence of two saprotroph and occasionally weak parasite fungi. The basiodiomycetes Laetiporus sulphureus and Pseudoinonotus dryadeus were identified by combining morphological and observation of microscopic characters with molecular analysis. The two mushrooms fall in the so-named category of “medicinal mushrooms” showing many properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, cytotoxic, hypoglycemic and anti-inflammatory. Actions are proposed to safeguard old trees and, simultaneously, preserve ex situ the wood-decay fungi of potential medicinal interest.