FATTY ACID COMPOSITIONS OF SOME WILD MUSHROOMS

The fatty acid compositions of 12 mushroom species, including nine edible and three poisonous wild varieties collected in Southeastern Türkiye, were examined using gas chromatography. Considerable interspecific variation was observed in the fatty acid profiles. Linoleic (C18:2n-6), oleic (C18:1n-9), and palmitic (C16:0) acids were the predominant components in nearly all mushrooms studied, whereas Russula rubroalba was distinguished by its unusually high capric acid (C10:0) content. The proportion of linoleic acid ranged between 32% and 82% depending on the species. Stearic (C18:0), linolenic (C18:3 n-3), palmitoleic (C16:1n-7), myristic (C14:0), and lauric (C12:0) acids were detected in relatively minor amounts. In general, unsaturated fatty acids comprise a substantially higher share of the total lipid fraction than saturated fatty acids. These findings suggest that fatty acid profiles can provide insights into the nutritional properties and taxonomic differentiation of wild mushrooms.