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YAR TSA GUMBANeglected Fungus Marching Towards Extinction

Introduction Natural Abode Medicinal values Cordyceps in Danger

Contents:

History

• It has long and storied history.

• First mention of Yar Tsa Gumba appear in 620CE.

• Literature describes a strange organism.

Yar Tsa Gumba was discovered long ago by the Tibetan and Nepal mountain pastures.

The legend of Cordyceps sinensis

Tibet: Yar Tsa Gumba1.

Nepal: Yar Tsa Gunbu2.

India: Keera Ghas or Keera Jadi3.

English: Caterpillar mushroom4.

5. Scientifically: Cordyceps sinensis

Introduction

Cordyceps sinensis

•Cordyceps sinensis is a wonderfully versatile mushroom.

•C. Sinensis is an annual Ascomycetes fungus closely related to the mushroom.

•The generic name Cordyceps is derived from the Latin words cord, meaning "club", and ceps, meaning "head". (Holliday, et.al., 2005).

•It is highly valued for its medicinal properties.

• The genus Cordyceps is mostly entomophagous flask fungi belonging to the family Clavicipitacea (Winkler, 2008).

• DNA of C. sinensis was not the same as that of other species of Cordyceps thus the change of genus to Ophiocordyceps was recommended within the newly recognized family Ophiocordycipitaceae (Sung, et.al, 2007; Cannon, et. al., 2009 and Boesi and Cardi, 2009).

• Not actually a mushroom in the taxonomic sense.

Scientific classification

• Kingdom: Fungi

• Division: Ascomycota

• Class: Sordariomycetes

• Order: Hypocreales

• Family: Ophiocordycipitaceae

• Genus: Ophiocordyceps

• Species: O. sinensis

Formation of Yar Tsa Gumba

• There are no scientifically studied reports on lifecycle of Cordyceps. Zhang, et.al.,(2012).

• C.sinensis is a fungus that parasitizes larvae of ghost moths.

• The fungus germinates in the living larva, kills and mummifies it, and then the stalk-like fruiting body emerges from the corpse.

Three possible ways of infecting the larvae:

1)Caterpillar ingests a fungal spore.

2) Fungal hypha penetrates a spiracle of the insect; or

3) an ascospore or a conidium

germinates after getting in contact with the larvae.

Harvesting

• The season starts as early as mid April, but in many places not before the beginning of May.

• It lasts into July.

Natural abode

• Yar Tsa Gumba thrives in cold, grassy, alpine and sub-alpine meadows on the mountainous Himalayan Plateau.

• It is found 3500-5000 meters above mean sea level.

• Outside India it is found in Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and in China.

• In India it is found throughout the Himalayas from east to west.

Arunachal Pradesh- Tawang area.Sikkim- Green lake, Nathu La Pass, Doman valley.Uttarakhand-Dharchula, Munsiyari, Niti-Mana valleys.Himanchal Pradesh

Distribution

Big Money In Small Villages

Yar Tsa Gumba is an expensive mushroom ( as costly as GOLD! )

One kilo of Yar Tsa Gumba costs about Rs. 150,000 (US$ 1,435) .

NUTRITIONAL COMPONENTSOF CORDYCEPS• Cordyceps contains a broad range of compounds,

which are considered nutritional.• It contains all of the essential amino acids,

vitamins E and K, and the water-soluble vitamins B1, B2, and B12.

• In addition, it contains many sugars, including mono-, di-, and oligiosaccharides, and many complex polysaccharides, proteins, sterols, nucleosides, and trace elements (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Pi, Se, Al, Si, Ni, Sr, Ti, Cr, Ga, V, and Zr).

Medicinal value

• Anti-aging• Asthma• Atherosclerosis• Cardiac Arrhythmias• Bronchitis• Diabetes• Hepatitis B• Cirrhosis• Kidney Failure• Fatigue• Anti-cancer

Cordyceps in Danger

• Exploitation

• Environmental conditions

• Scarcity of Ghost moth

• Landslides

• Illegal trade

Other factors….

Degrading shrub lands

Littered landscape

Forest Degradation

Sustainability

International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology

Volume 13, Issue 3, 2008

Yar Tsa Gumba (Cordyceps sinensis): A call for its sustainable exploitation.

DOI:10.1080/13504500609469669Chandra S Negi, Prithvi Raj Koranga & Hira Singh Ghinga pages 165-172Publishing models and article dates explained•Published online: 20 Sep 2010

Objectives

To analyze the abundance of the Cordyceps, the vegetation and habitat types.

To analyze the mode of trafficking.

Material and Methods

Study Sites-

• The study sites extend between 3200–4000 m asl, 29°21′–30°48′N and 79°48′–81°5′E, in the northern half of the district of Pithoragarh (Uttaranchal).

• The study team was divided into two in order to cover the three regions simultaneously.

Methods

Survey

• Survey was carried out midway through June.

Result • On average, 80% of the population of each

village is involved in the collection of Cordyceps.

• Local villagers have now, in most cases, demarcated their own collection areas.

• A sharp decline in the harvest, by as much as 30–50%, has occurred in the last two years.

Over exploitation

Conclusion

• Poverty drives people to over-exploit Yar Tsa Gumba.

• Not much concerned about declining yields.

• Unprecedented human negligence

References• Maikhuri RK, Nautiyal S and Rao KS. Nanda Devi Jaimandal

Aarakshit Chetra (Biosphere Reserve) Mein Auoshadhi Paadapon Ki Paramparagat Krishi Taknique. G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora; 2002:24 pp.

• Winkler, D. (2010). Caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) production and sustainability on the Tibetan plateau and in the Himalayas. Chinese Journal of Grassland. 32 (supplement), p.96-108.

• Zhang, Y., Wang, E.L.C., Li, Y., and Liu, X. (2012). Ophiocordyceps sinensis, the flagship fungus of China: terminology, life strategy and ecology. Mycology. 3(1): 2-10.

• Xu CD. Advances of researches on Cordyceps sinensis. J Fungal Res 2006; 4: 60–64.

• Negi, C.S. 2007. Changing face of Medicinal plants in the Darma and Johaar valleys, Pithoragarh, Kumaun Himalayas. Int. J. Sustain. Dev. World Ecol. 14(4): 428-436. Department of Zoology, Government Post Graduate College, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.

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