Question 48 from UPSC CSE 2022 - Current Affairs

Question

With reference to 'Gucchi' sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements:
1. It is a fungus.
2. It grows in some Himalayan forest areas.
3. It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 1 and 2

Strategy: *   Focus on Gucchi's core identity as a rare, prized wild Morel fungus from specific Himalayan forest regions.
*   Recognize that Gucchi is almost impossible to cultivate commercially; it is primarily collected from the wild.
*   Reject statements that suggest large-scale cultivation, particularly in the northeastern foothills.

Key Info: *   **Identity:** Gucchi, also known as Morel mushroom (Morchella spp.), is a highly prized wild edible fungus.
*   **Habitat:** Predominantly found in the temperate forests and subalpine regions of the northwestern Himalayas, specifically Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
*   **Harvesting:**
    *   Typically emerges after the spring thaw.
    *   Collected by local communities for culinary and commercial value.
*   **Value:** Globally recognized as one of the most expensive mushrooms due to its rarity, delicate harvesting process, and unique flavor profile.
*   **Cultivation:**
    *   Cannot be commercially cultivated; repeated artificial attempts have largely failed due to specific ecological requirements (mycorrhizal association and environmental cues).
    *   Collection is limited to wild foraging from decomposing wood, leaf litter, and moist slopes in forest areas.
*   **Geographic Note:** North-eastern Himalayan foothills are not the primary source, and commercial cultivation there or elsewhere is not an established practice.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 3 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: 2 and 3

With reference to 'Gucchi' sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements: It is a fungus. It grows in some Himalayan forest areas. It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to 'Gucchi' sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements:

It is a fungus.

It grows in some Himalayan forest areas.

It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?