Liezl T. Asido^1,, Quirlyn Faye A. Marte¹, Derrick O. Eñano¹, Nicole Bebis¹, Ian Jay P. Saldo¹, Jhovel Roy D. Calo¹, Mary Jade P. Dandoy¹, Rorei Marielle V. Asiñero¹

Bukidnon's mountain ranges and relatively cool and humid climates serve as a habitat and a thriving location for different flora and fauna. It is presumed that many different kinds of mushrooms in the province's wilderness still have not yet been discovered or used to their full potential. The study assessed wild mushroom species in Purok-3, Baclayon, Lantapan, Bukidnon. Specifically, this aimed to collect and identify all species of wild mushrooms in the area and their present conservation status, identify wild mushroom species that are edible and with medicinal value according to literature and studies, and determine how diverse wild mushrooms are present in the study site. The study focused on identifying wild mushroom species and harnessing their full potential before becoming extinct in the area. A transect walk within 300 m and 100 m from the roadside was used. A total of 12 individual species belonging to 9 different families and 9 genera were identified. Five wild mushrooms were edible and with medicinal properties (Lycoperdon sp., Cantharellus sp., Coprinellus sp., Auricularia auricula-judae, and Termitomyces sp.). Four wild mushrooms were inedible but with medical properties (Trametes cinnabarina, Ganoderma applanatum, Daedalea sp., Trametes sp.). One wild mushroom was inedible (Panaeolus sp.). Currently, the following species are not included in the IUCN Red List and DENR DAO. This entails that the species are generally not disturbed or threatened. Moreover, more studies about these wild mushrooms are required to determine their conservation status further and implement measures to protect them. The diversity of wild mushroom species in the study site was assessed using the Shannon-Wiener's Diversity Index (2.09), which represents low diversity, and Margalef's Richness Index (3.219), which represents medium species richness of wild mushrooms. Disturbance of the area and the different microhabitats affect the diversity of wild mushrooms. Furthermore, improved investigation should be done, and more sampling plots in the other parts of Lantapan, Bukidnon, Philippines to fully discover all the wild mushroom species found in the area, harness their full potential, and promote conservation.

biodiversity, conservation, edible mushrooms, wild mushrooms