Morchella esculenta (L.) Pers. commonly known as ‘Guchhi’, is nutritionally & medicinally important and is one of the expensive mushrooms. The mycelium of this fungus is commonly present as a mycorrhiza or in saprobic relationship with hardwood and coniferous trees in the temperate climate zone of the Himalaya including Himachal Pradesh. Recently, Morchella esculenta has also been reported from the tropical or sub-tropical regions of Himachal Pradesh. The formation and occurrence of Morchella fruiting bodies at lower altitudes has been attributed to the climate variations due to global warming. Its fruiting season is from March-July. Nutritionally, this mushroom contains carbohydrates, proteins, all important vitamins, minerals and aromatic compounds. It possesses a wide range of pharmacological properties including antioxidant, antitumor, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, also act as an immune-stimulant due to the presence of various active constituents. Ethno-botanically it is used as laxative, purgative, emollient, body tonic, heals the wound and also used for stomach problems. Due to its high commercial cost it plays a very important role in the economy of rural populace. Morchella had been reported from sub-tropical and tropical regions of Himachal Pradesh. It had also been reported from the Faizabad and Mount Abu (Rajasthan) at less than 1300m altitude. Various environmental factors such as temperature, pH, light, gaseous regime and disturbance may cause the development of fruiting bodies of Morchella. The review reveals that there are very few eco-physiological studies on the erratic occurrence of this mushroom in tropical regions.

Climate change, Gucchi, Himachal Pradesh, Himalaya, Morchella esculenta

Morchella esculenta is an edible fungus. It is one of the most highly priced mushrooms found in the world. It is found at altitude of 2500-3500 m in forest habitat. The growing season of Morchella esculenta is from March to July. In this study the climate change effects on Morchella esculenta in Himachal Pradesh were reviewed. Because usually Morchella is found in the temperate zones mostly. But recently the habitat of the Morchella esculenta and other Morchella species are shifted toward the tropical zones. Morchella esculenta is the most important and precious fungal plant which plays an important role in the economy and the price depends upon the quality. It has been consumed and appreciated for its nutritional value as well as medicinal properties. For centuries, Morchella esculenta has been consumed and appreciated for its nutritional value as well as medicinal properties. Morels have adapted to a wide range of unusual habitats and environmental conditions, including river bottoms, dunes, garbage dumps, abandoned coal mines, cellars and basements, saw mills, wood piles, sand bars in rivers, road cuts, excavations, deer trails, orchards, bomb craters and limed soils. It contains all the important nutrients, from carbohydrates, proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, secondary metabolites like phenolic compounds, etc. There are various studies done on the active constituents and nutritional aspects of Morchella esculenta. But there are very few studies done on the climate change effects on Morchella esculenta. Fruiting body of Morchella esculenta contains a broad range of active constituents which include carotenoids, tocopherols, phenolic compounds and organic acids. Carotenoids contain β-carotene and Lycopene. Morel species are reported to minimize oxidative damage in organisms that occurs in several chronic diseases. Previous studies have reported the antioxidant activity of mushrooms specially Morchella esculenta. Mycelia of Morchella esculenta possess beta-carotene and linoleic acid which exhibit antioxidant activities. Mycelia of Morchella esculenta contain antimicrobial properties. Powder of Morchella esculenta can be used as an antiseptic to heal the wounds and used for the treatment of stomach ache. Anti-inflammatory activity of morels was reported, showing significant dose-dependent inhibition of both acute and chronic inflammation. Polysaccharides extracted from Morchella esculenta are potentially tumor resistant. Morchella esculenta also acts as immune stimulant due to the presence of various active constituents. Morchella esculenta is also low in fat and contain low calories. Morchella esculenta contains 38% carbohydrates, 32.7% protein, 17.6% fibre, 9.7% ash and 2.0% fat. Morels are consumed worldwide as food, and in Tibet and India are cooked with vegetables and considered as nutritious as meat or fish. Protein obtained from the mycelia of Morchella esculenta are comparable to vegetative protein and can be used as a good source of protein supplement. It is rich in protein which can be more easily digested than other vegetables. Morels are cold tolerant and have been found to give fructification at temperature less than 5.6°C. Morels are widely distributed in the temperate zones but from past few years morels are reported from the tropical zones. There are also some news reports on Gucchi reported from sub-tropical and tropical regions. Some reports (research reports) on gucchi at different temperature are also discussed in review of literature. A wide range of environmental factors influence the timing and development of fruit bodies, including nutritional factors, gaseous regime, pH, light, microclimate, disturbance, and inter- and intra – specific mycelia interaction. Mycorrhizal fungi can be affected indirectly via effects of elevated CO2 on plant physiology and on fixed carbon entering soil from roots. The shady location, higher altitude and western aspect gave the idea that Morchella specifically requires less sunlight and cool climate. The one of the major finding are that the Morchella is also reported from some sub- tropical and tropical zones due to climate change. Because usually the Morchella is found in the temperate zones but now the Morchella spp. are also found in the tropical regions. Morchella esculenta is one of the most highly prized edible mushroom in the world. This edible fungus grows on soil rich in organic matter, in loamy soil and is found in various habitats such as coniferous forests, apple orchards, grassy places, etc. It contains a wide range of active constituents which include tocopherols, carotenoids, organic acids, polysaccharides and phenolic acid which exhibit a wide range of medicinal and pharmacological properties including anti-microbial, anti- inflammatory, immunostimulatory, antitumor and antioxidant. Nutritionally, it contains carbohydrates, proteins, fibers, all important vitamins, and minerals. This fungus is very expensive, hence called “growing gold of mountains” and it contributes a major role in country’s economy. There are very few studies done on the climatic effects on Morchella esculenta. There are various environmental factors which affects the fungal fruiting. Environmental factors such as organic matter amount, pH, metal concentration in soil and fungal factors such as species of mushroom, morphological part of fruiting body, development stages and age of mycelium, biochemical composition, and interval between the fructifications affects the metal accumulation in macro fungi. Effects of climate change on fungal distribution and activity are hard to predict because they are mediated in many different ways, including: fungal physiology, reproduction and survival, host physiology, spatial and temporal distribution of hosts and resource availability, and outcome of competitive interspecific interactions. Fructification of bodies of morel fungi are highly valued for their medicinal and nutritional qualities. Investigations have shown that there is a stage in the life cycle of morels called the sclerotium. It is also experimentally demonstrated that sclerotia are essential in production of fructifications under controlled conditions. A wide range of environmental factors influence the timing and development of fruit bodies, including nutritional factors, gaseous regime, pH, light, microclimate, disturbance, and inter and intra-specific mycelia interaction. Many ascomycete species require exposure to light before they will fruit. Due to the various changes in environment, morels are also found in tropical or sub tropical zones. The fruiting body of Morchella esculenta are low in fat and calories but rich in protein. So mushroom is one of the best plant to study and to gain knowledge about especially Morchella esculenta because there are very few studies done on the climatic effects on Morchella esculenta and on other Morchella species. There is a wide range of scope in the future on this topic i.e. climate change induced shift in distribution of Morchella esculenta (L.) Pers. in Himachal Pradesh. There are many studies on the Morchella esculenta like active constituents of Morchella esculenta and nutritional aspects of Morchella esculenta but there are very few studies on the climate change effects on Morchella esculenta. So, there is still need to study about the various climatic factors that affects the Morchella esculenta. This is a very interesting topic and this topic also have a great research scope in the future.

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Hem Chander and Anchal Sharma (2023). Nutritional Qualities and Climate Change Induced Shift in Habitat Distribution of Morchella esculenta (L.) Pers. in Himachal Pradesh: A Review. International Journal on Emerging Technologies, 14(2): 30–52.