EDIBLE MUSHROOMS IN THE PERM TERRITORY FORESTS (RUSSIA)

The Perm Territory is situated on the north-east of the East European Plain and adjacent western sides of the Northern and Medium Ural Mountains. The Territory stretches from the north to the south for approximately 600 km, between 56° 06’ and 61° 39’ of latitude north, and from the west to the east for 400 km (between 51 47’ and 59° 39’ of longitude east). The area of the Perm Territory is 160,6 ths sq. km. The climate is temperate continental. The territory belongs to taiga. The population uses edible mushrooms for food. Usually the people pick up about 20 species of mushrooms (5 ? 7 species in the North) that decreases their crop capacity. The objective of the research is to study species diversity of edible mushrooms. The research methods are route and stationary. The author started studying agarics systematically in 1975. At present 872 species of agarics have been discovered, 307 of them are edible. They generally can be found in the subzone of the southern taiga (266 species). Least of all edible fungi are found in the subzone of the middle taiga (103 species). These are mushrooms from the families Russulaceae (98 species), Tricholomataceae (63), Boletaceae (29) and Agaricaceae (24). Mushrooms forming mycorrhiza prevail (211 species). There are many mushrooms growing on the litter (53) and on the wood (44). Strict confinement to the substratum is not found. The mushrooms can belong not only to one, but several ecological groups. Considering the distribution of mushrooms in the Perm Territory, it may be recommended to use for food 89 species with large fruit bodies and good taste qualities.