Łukasz Łuczaj1, Vichith Lamxay2, Khamphart Tongchan3, Kosonh Xayphakatsa4, Kongchay Phimmakong5, Somphavanh Radavanh4, Villapone Kanyasone6, Marcin Pietras7, Małgorzata Karbarz8. 1. Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, ul. Pigonia 1, 35-310, Rzeszów, Poland. lukasz.luczaj@interia.pl. 2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, National University of Laos, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic. 3. Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden, Ban Wat That, PO Box 959, 06000, Luang Prabang, Lao People's Democratic Republic. 4. Biotechnology and Ecology Institute, Ministry of Science and Technology, Doon Teaw Village, Km 14 Office, Thangon Road, Xaythany District, PO Box 2279, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic. 5. Department of Science, Ministry of Science and Technology, Doon Teaw, Km 14, Thangon Road, Xaythany District, PO Box 2279, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic. 6. Department of Science and Technology, Luang Prabang, Lao People's Democratic Republic. 7. Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035, Kórnik, Poland. 8. Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, ul. Pigonia 1, 35-310, Rzeszów, Poland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Open air markets hold an important position for ethnobiologists. In Southeast Asia, they are seriously understudied, in spite of their incredible biocultural diversity. In order to fill this gap we recorded plants and fungi sold in the open air markets of Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. METHODS: The markets were visited 38 times in four seasons: the dry season, early monsoon, mid-monsoon, and end-of-monsoon, at least 8 times per season. All items were photographed and voucher specimens were collected. Fungi were identified using DNA barcoding techniques. RESULTS: We recorded 110 species of wild edible plants and 54 species of fungi, including 49 wild-collected species. The sold plants included 86 species of green vegetables, 18 species of fruits and 3 species of flowers. Products from woody species constitute around half of all taxa sold. These include the young shoots of tree leaves, which are used for salads-an interesting feature of Lao cuisine. A large number of extremely rare Russula, with no reference sequences represented in databases or even species unknown to science is present on sale in the markets. CONCLUSIONS: Luang Prabang markets are some of the richest in species of wild edible plants and fungi in Asia, and indeed in the whole world. It is worth pointing out the exceptionally long list of wild edible mushrooms which are sold in Luang Prabang (and probably elsewhere in Laos). We view the Morning Market of Luang Prabang as a cultural treasure that unites the traditions of eating a large number of living species with very diverse flora and fauna. Measures should be taken to strike a balance between local foraging traditions and nature conservation priorities.
BACKGROUND: Open air markets hold an important position for ethnobiologists. In Southeast Asia, they are seriously understudied, in spite of their incredible biocultural diversity. In order to fill this gap we recorded plants and fungi sold in the open air markets of Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. METHODS: The markets were visited 38 times in four seasons: the dry season, early monsoon, mid-monsoon, and end-of-monsoon, at least 8 times per season. All items were photographed and voucher specimens were collected. Fungi were identified using DNA barcoding techniques. RESULTS: We recorded 110 species of wild edible plants and 54 species of fungi, including 49 wild-collected species. The sold plants included 86 species of green vegetables, 18 species of fruits and 3 species of flowers. Products from woody species constitute around half of all taxa sold. These include the young shoots of tree leaves, which are used for salads-an interesting feature of Lao cuisine. A large number of extremely rare Russula, with no reference sequences represented in databases or even species unknown to science is present on sale in the markets. CONCLUSIONS: Luang Prabang markets are some of the richest in species of wild edible plants and fungi in Asia, and indeed in the whole world. It is worth pointing out the exceptionally long list of wild edible mushrooms which are sold in Luang Prabang (and probably elsewhere in Laos). We view the Morning Market of Luang Prabang as a cultural treasure that unites the traditions of eating a large number of living species with very diverse flora and fauna. Measures should be taken to strike a balance between local foraging traditions and nature conservation priorities.
Authors: Conrad L Schoch; Keith A Seifert; Sabine Huhndorf; Vincent Robert; John L Spouge; C André Levesque; Wen Chen Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2012-03-27 Impact factor: 11.205