Our center, under the guidance of Assistant Professor Dr. Hana Hani Al-Saffar, recently hosted a workshop titled ‘Classification of Some Types of Poisonous and Edible Fungi in Central Iraq.’ Organized by the workshop and seminar committee, the event featured a presentation by Assistant Lecturer Sarah Jamal Jalil from the Department of Botany and Environment, guided by Senior Agricultural Engineer Enas Abdul Khalifa.
The presentation focused on the identification and classification of various Agaricomycetes fungi collected from central Iraq. Based on morphological characteristics, eight fungal species belonging to six genera were identified. These fungi were found to thrive in satrobiotic environments, with their growth influenced by seasonal changes, soil composition, and habitat characteristics.
The workshop highlighted the importance of accurately identifying edible and poisonous fungi, as some species can be highly toxic. Key recommendations included:
Prioritizing commercially cultivated mushrooms: As they are generally safer and undergo quality control.
Exercising caution with wild mushrooms: Emphasizing the importance of expert identification to avoid accidental consumption of poisonous varieties.