Mineral Composition and Quality Traits of Morchella spp. Harvested from Forest Plantations and Native Forests in South-Central Chile

Morels are highly valued edible mushrooms due to their ecological and nutraceutical importance. However, nutritional studies in South America are still scarce. This study evaluated the mineral, nutritional, and bioactive properties of Morchella eximia, M. importuna, M. tridentina, and the endemic M. andinensis, which naturally fruits in forest plantations (FPs) and native forests (NFs) in south-central Chile. Soils differed significantly, indicating varied fertility levels across morel habitats. Ascocarps from all species exhibited significant accumulation of K and P, with moderate accumulation of Ni and Zn. Cd and Pb remained within internationally accepted safe limits, while As was undetectable. The determination of the translocation factor, performed only on M. andinensis and M. tridentina, indicated a preferential translocation of K and P to the pileus. Differences were observed among the species in terms of phenolic content and antioxidant activity. A proximate analysis revealed that Chilean morels had elevated levels of protein and fiber, similar to those reported in morels from other latitudes. An exploratory multivariate analysis suggested that the observed variation in mineral composition and bioactive and nutritional properties of Chilean morels likely reflects the combined influence of soil characteristics, forest environment, and genotype traits. These preliminary results are the first to describe traits related to the nutritional quality of Morchella spp. from south-central Chile.