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We’ve created this site for those who love Life and view It as a miracle, as a major part of this generous Universe and its greatest achievement. There’s no unanimously accepted definition for Life, as if nobody could catch the essence of it. People who try to decipher Its secrets are amazed at Its complexity and simplicity - diversity and unity, at the same time. Life per se is so perfect, as if a benevolent superior Force created It and set It on this planet. As if the entire Universe might have “conspired” to produce It.

Where does Life begin? Most scholars would say Life begins with the cell. Bacteria, protists, fungi, plants and animals are very different but still made of cells – the basic unit of structure and function in all living organisms. These cells range a great variety in: shape, structure, chemical content, physiological role. In some cases one cell stands for one organism (e.g. bacteria, some protists), in other cases numerous cells compose an organism (fungi, plants, animals).

Despite its huge diversity, the living world acts as a whole, all organisms being strongly connected to each other. Some living beings need just minerals (CO2) and one energy source (light or chemical energy) in order to produce organic matter and thus, feed themselves. They are called autotrophic organisms or autotrophs and are represented by some bacteria, some protists (algae) and the green plants. Autotrophs are the producers in food chains.

Other organisms are not able to use directly energy and minerals (CO2) in order to synthesize their food, which means they cannot convert mineral compounds into organic ones. Therefore, such living beings feed on the organic matter produced by the autotrophs, and are called heterotrophic organism or heterotrophs. All animals are heterotrophs, as well as fungi, some protists and many monerae (bacteria). In food chains, they are the consumers. Finally, the decomposers (bacteria and fungi) which feed on dead organic matter, release the minerals requested by the producers and close the cycle.

For centuries, scientists have tried to identify and name the living beings, and then classify them. They concluded that every organism belongs to a species - the basic rank of scientific taxonomy, and must have a latin name, so that people across the world could recognize it. For instance, Homo sapiens is the scientific name for man (it means “wise man” in latin).
The concept of species has evolved in time, due to new descoveries in the field of molecular biology. Living organisms belonging to one species not only look alike, are capable of interbreeding and produce fertile offspring, but also share common DNA. At the same time, biochemistry and molecular genetics took over morphology in classification, and proved for exemple that fungi are more related to animals than plants.

The total number of species on Earth both identified and unidentified is thought to be around 100 milion, ranging an amazing variety. Unfortunately man is wiping out these species at a terrible rate, destroying them directly and compromising their habitats. He sees himself as a master and acts like an enemy, forgetting about his place in nature and his duty. This is an image we all want to wipe off.

Our goal is to generate a world where people learn the basics without being biologists, share their knowledge with others and become aware of their meaning on Earth – to preserve Life. How could we defend something we don’t love and how could we love something we don’t respect? Life is a cosmic reality and we are a part of It!
 
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Scris de Ionela Panainte   
Wednesday, 03 February 2010
      Desi originara din China, ciuperca Lentinula edodes este cunoscuta mai ales sub denumirea japoneza de Shiitake, ceea ce inseamna “ciuperca de shii”, shii fiind un arbore asiatic din neamul fagului (Castanopsis cuspidata). Denumirile chinezeasca (xiānggū), tailandeza (hed hom) si vietnameza (nấm hương) se traduc toate ciuperca inmiresmata, in timp ce vesticii o desemneaza ca ciuperca neagra chinezeasca si/sau ciuperca neagra de padure.
      Cultivata si consumata curent in multe tari asiatice, Shiitake este considerata o delicatesa si un pilon de baza in gastronomia chinezeasca, japoneza, coreeana si tailandeza. De asemenea, este indiscutabila calitatea ei de ciuperca medicinala, numeroase cercetari stiintifice demonstrandu-i potentialul terapeutic.


Scurt istoric

      Shiitake se cultiva in China de peste 1000 de ani - prima dovada scrisa in acest sens dateaza din timpul dinastiei Song (960–1127 AD.). Cu toate acestea, consemnarile privind consumul ciupercii dateaza din 199 AD. In timpul dinastiei Ming, medicul chinez Wu Juei scria ca ciuperca inmiresmata se putea folosi nu doar ca aliment, ci si in scopuri medicale - ca remediu al unor afectiuni respiratorii, circulatorii si hepatice. De asemenea, putea fi administrata pentru combaterea epuizarii si a starilor de slabiciune, fiind capabila sa intareasca chi-ul (energia vitala) si sa previna imbatranirea prematura.
      Utilizarile medicale traditionale ale acestei ciuperci vizeaza conditii patologice din cele mai variate, precum: gripa si racelile, rujeola, cefaleea, guta, diabetul, unele afectiuni la nivelul tubului digestiv (hemoroizii, constipatia), disfunctiile sexuale.
      In timpul dinastiei Ming (1368–1644 AD), ciuperca parfumata era destinata exclusiv imparatului si familiei imperiale, astfel ca era denumita “hrana imparatului”. Si japonezii o tineau la loc de cinste, considerand-o nu doar savuroasa, ci si adevaratul “elixir al vietii”. Dupa 700 de ani de traditie in cultura acestei ciuperci, Japonia furnizeaza in prezent aproximativ 80 % din productia mondiala.


Taxonomie

      Incadrarea taxonomica exacta a Shiitake constituie si in prezent subiect de dezbatere printre micologi. Convergenta opiniilor ajunge pana la nivel de ordin - Regnul Fungi, Increngatura Basidiomycota, Clasa Agaricomycetes, Ordinul Agaricales. In ceea ce priveste familia, initial s-a considerat ca Shiitake este un membru al Tricholomataceae-lor. Dat fiind ca aceasta a fost scindata ulterior in mai multe familii, in prezent se considera genul Lentinula sp. ca apartinand Familiei Marasmiaceae, desi unii autori o incadreaza in Familia Omphalotaceae.
      Nici in privinta denumirii generice nu exista mai putine probleme, aceastei ciuperci fiindu-i atribuite de-a lungul timpului numeroase denumiri latinesti. Iata-le in ordine cronologica: Agaricus edodes (1878); Collybia shiitake (1886); Armillaria edodes (1887); Lepiota shiitake (1889); Lentinus tonkinensis (1890); Mastoleucomyces edodes (1891); Cortinellus shiitake (1899); Tricholoma shiitake (1918); Lentinus mellianus (1918); Lentinus shiitake (1936); Lentinus edodes (1941). Denumirea stiintifica actuala, Lentinula edodes, a fost adoptata in 1975.


Morfologie

      Ca toate basidiomicetele agaricale, Shiitake are corpul sporifer alcatuit din palarie si picior, ambele de consistenta carnoasa, moale. Piciorul neted, pozitionat central sustine palaria convexa, de culoare cafenie si ornamentata cu “solzisori” albi. Himeniul (stratul fertil) este liber si are forma de lamele dispuse radiar. Pe acestea se vor forma basidiosporii, a caror amprenta este alba sau galbena.


Raspandire

     Lentinula edodes creste spontan in tarile asiatice (China, Japonia, Coreea) pe arborii foiosi cazuti, fiind o specie saprofita. Actualmente este cultivata peste tot in lume, castigand pas cu pas popularitate in gastronomia occidentala.

Cultivare

      Pana in anii ‘80 japonezii cultivau aceasta ciuperca doar in locatii traditionale, folosind metode invechite cum ar fi taierea arborilor shii cu toporul si asezarea bustenilor respectivi langa copaci pe care cresteau spontan ciuperci Shiitake. Cercetarile privind germinarea sporilor si cresterea miceliului au stat la baza metodelor moderne, adoptate astazi in toata lumea. Desi marii cultivatori se numesc Japonia, China, Coreea, tari precum Rusia si SUA se pot mandri cu productiii proprii considerabile.


“Exemplul nu este principalul mijloc de a-i influenta pe altii. Este singurul mijloc.”
Albert Schweitzer


 
Ultima actualizare ( Saturday, 27 February 2010 )
 
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