Not All Bad: Gyromitrin mycotoxin has a limited distribution in edible false morels (Gyromitra)

False morels (Gyromitra spp.) are iconic fungi primarily for what they are not – morels (Morchella spp.), the highly sought after, wild foraged mushrooms. Every morel hunter is taught to recognize and avoid false morels because they may carry a mycotoxin called gyromitrin (acetaldehyde N-methyl-N-formylhydrazone). While there are only a few deaths associated with gyromitrin in recent times, poisonings can result in liver and kidney damage, and repeated exposure may cause neurodegenerative diseases. Despite these risks, some intrepid mushroom hunters enjoy eating false morels. Despite false morels’ infamy as both delicacy and deadly poison, we previously had a limited and largely anecdotal understanding of which species contained the toxin. We developed a new, highly sensitive gyromitrin assay using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography and surveyed the false morel family Discinaceae for gyromitrin production. Gyromitrin has a more limited and discontinuous distribution than expected, consistent with a model of rapid evolution coupled with horizontal transfer. ~~~~ Torrey Botanical Society Spring 2023 Lecture Series presented by Alden Dirks, University of Michigan ~~~~ 00:00 Introduction 10:04 Lecture 51:00 Q&A ~~~~ For more information on future lectures, field trips, and the Torrey Botanical Society, visit https://www.torreybotanical.org