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The genus
Calvatia (‘Gasteromycetes’, Lycoperdaceae): A review of
its ethnomycology and biotechnological potential
Johannes C.
Coetzee1* and Abraham E. van Wyk2
1Department
of Horticultural Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of
Technology, P. O. Box 1906, Bellville, 7535 Republic of
South Africa.
2H.G.W.J.
Schweickerdt Herbarium, Department of Plant Science,
University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002 Republic of South
Africa.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
coetzeej@cput.ac.za.
Accepted 8 May, 2009 |
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Several members of the fungal puffball genus Calvatia
Fr. have found widespread use amongst various cultures
world-wide, especially as sources of food and/or traditional
medicine. Hitherto the biotechnological potential of only a
handful of Calvatia species, namely C.
cyathiformis, C. craniiformis, C.
excipuliformis, C. gigantea and C.
utriformis has been investigated. However, despite
promising results, information regarding the
biotechnological potential of the rest of the genus, in
particular the African species, is still completely lacking.
In the hope that it might stimulate interest and further
research on this topic, the current paper provides a brief
overview of the literature pertaining to the importance of
Calvatia to man in terms of its pathogenicity, its
ecology and role as bioindicator, its food and nutritional
value and also its potential as biotechnological tool in the
pharmaceutical and other industries.
Key words:
Biotechnology, Calvatia, ethnomycology,
gasteromycetes, Handkea, Langermannia,
Lycoperdaceae, pathogenicity. |
