A Deep Dive into Morel Mushrooms and the Threat of Mycotoxins from Fungi in Our Food Supply with Mycologist Tom Volk

This episode is a conversation with Tom Volk who is a world-renowned mycologist and professor at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. He teaches numerous courses such as Medical Mycology, Plant-Microbe Interactions, Food & Industrial Mycology and even Lating & Greek for Scientists. Tom runs a popular web page called Tom Volk's Fungi, which features a host of fungi species and is an extensive introduction to the Kingdom Fungi. He has worked in mushroom cultivation and is intimately familiar with the genera  Morchella (morels), Cantharellus (chanterelles), Hydnellum (a tooth fungus), Armillaria (honey mushrooms) and Laetiporus (chicken of the woods, or sulfur shelf).  He also has conducted fungal biodiversity studies in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Alaska, and Israel. Having lectured in 35 states so far, Tom is a popular speaker at many amateur and professional mycological events throughout North America, including many NAMA and NEMF forays.  Tom was also the president of the Mycological Society of America.

Episode Overview:

• What mycology is and how Tom got fascinated with this subject
• Terms every mushroom forager should be familiar with
• Primary roles of fungi in an ecosystem
• Expert lesson on the morel mushroom and it's look-alikes
• Understanding the threat of mycotoxins from fungi and their presence in our food supply

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Tom Volk's Fungi Blog:
https://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/

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