https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06701-6
Regular Article
The dual face of mycology: forensic signatures and edible mushroom authentication
1
Faculty of Forensic Sciences and Engineering, University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies, Cara Dusana 196, Belgrade, Serbia
2
National Forensic Centre, Ministry of Interiors, Republic of Serbia, Kneza Milosa 101, Belgrade, Serbia
Received:
1
April
2024
Accepted:
28
July
2025
Published online:
6
August
2025
Mycology’s application in criminal investigation and food technology, spanning over two decades, has proven to be invaluable. The first aim of this study is to analyze the distribution of spores in the soil as potential credible evidence in court. The second part of this study focuses on the characterization and analysis of spores from edible mushrooms (Boletus edulis, Suillellus luridus, and Agaricus bisporus), poisonous mushroom (Boletus satanas), and hallucinogenic mushrooms (species of the genus Psilocybe sp.). SEM (scanning electron microscope) analysis of mushrooms and soil confirmed that spores belonging to Sarcoscypha coccinea were found at distances of 1, 2, and 3 meters from the discovered mushroom, with the highest concentration at a distance of 1 m. In the soil sample collected under the mushroom and at a 4 m distance, spores were not identified, which can be correlated with their propagation and distribution, primarily by wind and occasionally by water. Additionally, visual inspection of edible, poisonous, and hallucinogenic mushrooms showed that the morphological characteristics of the three different cep species (Boletus edulis, Suillellus luridus, Boletus satanas) were very similar, especially regarding the appearance of the cap, color of the cap, and size of the stem, whether it was a young mushroom or mature fruiting body. Spore morphology analysis through microscopy proved successful in identifying various edible and non-edible cep mushroom species, as well as hallucinogenic mushrooms, emphasizing the importance of spore analysis for species identification and forensic evidence.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
