UPSC Prelims 2022 Q45: Environment & Ecology – Biodiversity & Conservation
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?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 1 and 2
- (d) 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 and 2
Explanation
Gucchi: the wild morel of the Himalayas
| Statement | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. It is a fungus | Correct | Gucchi is the morel mushroom (*Morchella esculenta*) |
| 2. It grows in some Himalayan forests | Correct | Found wild in conifer forests of J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand |
| 3. It is commercially cultivated in the north-eastern foothills | Incorrect | It is wild-harvested, mainly in the western Himalayas; commercial cultivation has not succeeded |
Gucchi sells for ₹20,000-30,000 per kg because it cannot yet be farmed at scale.
It was in the news after a GI tag request for J&K's Gucchi.
Answer: (c) 1 and 2.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 2 is also true; Gucchi grows wild in Himalayan forests.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 3 is false; Gucchi is wild-collected, not commercially cultivated.
- (c) CORRECT. Gucchi is a morel fungus that grows wild in Himalayan forests.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 3 fails on both counts: it is not cultivated and is mainly a western Himalayan product.
Key point
Gucchi = wild morel fungus (Morchella esculenta) of western Himalayan forests; not commercially cultivated.
Remember
Gucchi: morel fungus, wild in western Himalayas, not farmed.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a premium market product must be farmed; Gucchi's price is high precisely because it is wild-collected.
- Placing Gucchi in the north-east instead of J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
- Not recognising a morel as a fungus (mushroom) rather than a plant.
Exam tip
Watch for the qualifier 'commercially cultivated'. Many prized forest products are still wild-harvested.
Sources
- ICAR — Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — morel