UMinho
Banningia arbuti on an emblematic tree of the Mediterranean basin. Study involved UMinho and Castelo Branco Polytechnic.
It’s called Banningia shrubs: a nova species of fungus was identified in a microbiological survey of strawberry tree berries (Arbutus unedo), an emblematic tree of the Mediterranean basin.
Its fruit is reddish, bittersweet, rich in bioactive compounds and also used in traditional brandy.
The study was carried out by researchers from the Micoteca of the University of Minho (MUM) and the Escola Superior Agrária of the Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco.
Scientists discovered a species of fungus isolated in strawberry trees from the region of Oleiros, Castelo Branco.
The study helps to value the ecological diversity of fungi, which have essential functions in ecosystems, read in .
The genre Banning There was only one known species in the worlduntil this study. Now, this discovery allows us to scientifically clarify the entire genus, which in turn belongs to the family of fungi Saccotheciaceae, still little studied.
The investigation involved morphological, molecular and biochemical analyses.
“This discovery demonstrates the importance of microbiological collections in preserving biodiversity and our role as an international reference infrastructure in the identification and study of fungi”, highlights the director of MUM, Nelson Lima.
