A Systematic Review of Biodiversity and Conservation of Indigenous Mushrooms (Basidiomycotina, Ascomycotina) of Central Africa Countryside: Uses, Distribution and Checklists

Significant socio-economic, spiritual, nutritional and medicinal needs of the countrysides in Central Africa region are obtainable from macrofungi. Conversely, anthropogenic activities climate change have led to a reduction habitats mushrooms which has some becoming endangered. A dearth information on ecology, management composition exists. Hence review was systematically carried out published mycological research outcomes African countryside, delineate way forward. It observed that level indigenous knowledge very high (> 60%) all tribes. The highest number edible Democratic Republic Congo (DRC)(377 species), followed by Cameroon (50 species). dataset showed 448 been identified based citable publications 27 tribes/localities evaluated. Additionally 116 author-identified inhabitants did not identify use. most popular 79 key were Russula (9 spp.), Termitomyces (8), Cantharellus Plerotus (5), Amanita Marasmius, Lactarius Lactifluus (4 spp. each). topmost consumed species Pleurotus tuberregium (14 localities), Auricularia cornea (13), congolensis (12), Marasmius bekolacongoli Schizophyllum commune (11) floridulus (11). Mushrooms for mythology uses: (Phallus indusiatus Dictyophora sp.), Mythology+food: (Termitomyces robustus), Medicinal: (Daldinia concentrica, Ganoderma applanatum lucidum), Medicinal+food: (Polyporus dictyopus, clypeatus) Food+mythology+medicinal: microcarpus titanicus). Irrefutably, these previous ethnomycological ecological studies scarcely made significant impact fungi biodiversity.