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BoggleChemical tests in mushroom identification
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Of the Chemical tests in mushroom identification the most useful are Melzer's and Potassium hydroxide. A list of tests follows.
Contents |
Ammonia
Household ammonia can be used. A couple of drops are placed on the flesh. For example, Boletus spadiccus gives a fleeting blue to blue-green reaction.
Iron salts
Used commonly in Russula and Bolete identification. It is best to dissolve the salts in water (typically a 10% solution) and then apply to the flesh but it is sometimes possible to apply the dry salts directly to see a color change. For example, the white flesh of Boletus chrysenteron stains lemon-yellow or olive. Three results are expected with the iron salts tests: no change indicates a negative reaction; a color change to olive, green or blackish green; or a color change to reddish-pink.[1]
Meixner test for amatoxins
Uses concentrated hydrochloric acid and newspaper to test for the deadly poisonous amatoxins found in some species of Amanita, Lepiota, and Galerina.
Melzer's reagent
Melzer's Reagent can be used to test spores for amyloid, nonamyloid, dextrinoid.
- Spores that stain bluish-gray to bluish-black are amyloid
- Spores that stain brown to reddish-brown are dextrinoid
This test is normally performed on white spored mushrooms (if the spores are not light colored a change will not be readily apparent). It is easiest to see the color change under a microscope but it is possible to see it with the naked eye if you have a good spore print.
Paradiaminobenzaldehyde
In the genus Lyophyllum the lamellae usually turn blue with the application of Paradiaminobenzaldehyde (PDAB).
Phenol
A 2–3% aqueous solution of phenol gives a color change in some species when applied to the cap or stem.
Potassium hydroxide
A 3–10% solution of Potassium hydroxide (KOH) gives a color change in some species:
- In Agaricus, some species turn yellow with KOH, some have no reaction, and one species turns green.
- Distinctive change for some species of Cortinarius and Boletes
Schaeffer's test
Uses aniline and nitric acid on Agaricus.
Sulpho-vanillin
Made from sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and vanillin (vanilla). Used in Russula indentification.
References
- Arora, David "Mushrooms Demystified" 2nd Edition, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, 1986
- Jordan, Michael "The Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe" Frances Lincoln 2004
- Kuo, Michael "100 Edible Mushrooms", University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor 2007
- Largent, David L., Baroni, Timothy J. "How to Identify Mushrooms to Genus VI: Modern Genera" Mad River Press 1988
External links
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