This study examined the chemical composition of A. blasiliensis and the chemical structural properties of an immuno-stimulating polysaccharide. The amino acids, free sugars, and organic acids by HPLC and fatty acids by GC were analyzed. The immuno-stimulating substance from A. blasiliensis was extracted with hot water and purified by ethanol precipitation. It underwent ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration on Toyopearl HW 65F. Through GP-HPLC, the substance was found to be homogeneous. Its chemical structure was determined by 13C-NMR. Fatty acids, organic acids, and sugar alcohol composition consisted exclusively of linoleic acid, fumaric acid and mannitol, respectively. The amino acids were mainly glutamic acid, glycine, and arginine. By 13C-NMR analysis, the immuno-stimulating substance was identified as beta-(1-->3) (1-->6)-glucan, composed of a backbone with (1-->3)-linked D-glucopyranosyl residues branching a (1-->6)-linked D-glucopyranosyl residue. The beta-glucan from A. blasiliensis showed pronounced immuno-stimulating activity on the antibody-production ability of B-lymphocytes by the hemolytic suspension assay. In these results, A. blasiliensis was estimated to have potent pharmacological properties and potential nutritional values.
Agaricus ; Amino Acids ; Arginine ; B-Lymphocytes ; Carbohydrates ; Chromatography, Gel ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; DEAE-Cellulose ; Ethanol ; Fatty Acids ; Fumarates ; Glutamic Acid ; Glycine ; Linoleic Acid ; Mannitol ; Nutritive Value ; Water

Perforated vinyl mulching technique was performed on Pleurotus sajor-caju beds to assess fruitbody formation. Individual fruitbody of P. sajor-caju was transformed into bunch type on vinyl mulching bed. It was effective to grow the mushroom without waterlogging and abortion of small pins on the beds as well as hygienical bed management. A bunch showed 79 fruitbodies and 225 g of weight. Available site for fruiting was reduced up to 20% in comparison of 100% for conventional bed. The color of fruitbody turned on brownish white from treated vinyl mulching bed.
Agaricales ; Fruit ; Pleurotus*

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to suggest preventive methods for hypertension in cold-exposed workers. METHODS: In 11 refrigeration industries, 68 workers working in refrigerated areas more than one time per day were selected as the exposed group, and 68 workers not exposed to cold were selected as the control group. We interviewed the subjects with a questionnaire covering occupational history, and conducted clinical and laboratory tests including measurements of blood pressure and core temperature. RESULTS: The systolic blood pressure in the exposed group(130.0+/-13.3 mmHg) was significantly higher than that recorded in the control group(118.3+/-12.1 mmHg), as was the diastolic blood pressure in the exposed group(82.7+/-8.5 mmHg) versus the control group(77.4 +/-8.7 mmHg). The core temperature in the exposed group(36.1+/-0 . 7degrees C) was significantly lower than that experienced in the control group(36.4+/-0 . 5degrees C). In logistic regression analysis, age, cold exposure severity and milk intake were significant variables, with odds ratios of 5.204(95 % CI 1.440~18.812), 2.674(95 % CI 1.080~6.618), and 0.364(95 % CI 0.141~0.942), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that cold-exposed workers have higher a higher risk of hypertension, and that their core temperature is lower. Risk factors affecting hypertension of cold-exposed workers include age, cold exposure severity and milk intake. For the prevention of hypertension, cold-exposed workers should minimize cold-exposure time as much as possible.
Blood Pressure ; Hypertension* ; Logistic Models ; Milk ; Odds Ratio ; Questionnaires ; Refrigeration ; Risk Factors

The process of biodegradation in lingo-cellulosic materials is critically relevant to biospheric carbon. The study of this natural process has largely involved laboratory investigations, focused primarily on the biodegradation and recycling of agricultural by-products, generally using basidiomycetes species. In order to collect super white rot fungi and evaluate its ability to degrade lingo-cellulosic material, 35 fungal strains, collected from forests, humus soil, livestock manure, and dead trees, were screened for enzyme activities and their potential to decolorize the commercially used Poly-R 478 dye. In the laccase enzymatic analysis chemical test, 33 white rot fungi and 2 brown rot fungi were identified. The degradation ability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) according to the utilized environmental conditions was higher in the mushrooms grown in dead trees and fallen leaves than in the mushrooms grown in humus soil and livestock manure. Using Poly-R 478 dye to assess the PAH-degradation activity of the identified strains, four strains, including Agrocybe pediades, were selected. The activities of laccase, MnP, and Lip of the four strains with PAH-degrading ability were highest in Pleurotus incarnates. 87 fungal strains, collected from forests, humus soil, livestock manure, and dead trees, were screened for enzyme activities and their potential to decolorize the commercially used Poly-R 478 dye on solid media. Using Poly-R 478 dye to assess the PAHdegrading activity of the identified strains, it was determined that MKACC 51632 and 52492 strains evidenced superior activity in static and shaken liquid cultures. Subsequent screening on plates containing the polymeric dye poly R-478, the decolorization of which is correlated with lignin degradation, resulted in the selection of a strain of Coriolus versicolor, MKACC52492, for further study, primarily due to its rapid growth rate and profound ability to decolorize poly R-478 on solid media. Considering our findings using Poly-R 478 dye to evaluate the PAH-degrading activity of the identified strains, Coriolus versicolor, MKACC 52492 was selected as a favorable strain. Coriolus versicolor, which was collected from Mt. Yeogi in Suwon, was studied for the production of the lignin-modifying enzymes laccase, manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP), and lignin peroxidase (LiP).
Agaricales ; Agrocybe ; Anthraquinones ; Basidiomycota ; Carbon ; Coloring Agents ; Fungi ; Humans ; Laccase ; Lignin ; Lip ; Livestock ; Manure ; Mass Screening ; Peroxidase ; Peroxidases ; Pleurotus ; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ; Polymers ; Recycling ; Soil ; Sprains and Strains ; Trees

This study investigated the morphological differences of P. ostreatus grown in the artificial environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature, ventilation, and watering. Oyster mushroom, which was cultivated on artificial environmental condition, was shown to have different morphology of fruitbodies. The optimum CO2 concentration for good morphology of P. ostreatus was 0.3%. But most fruitbody showed the morphologically low qualities in more than 0.5% of CO2 concentration. In the humidity in excess of 80% at 13~16degrees C, the best morphology of P. ostreatus was investigated. The growth of fruitbodies of P. ostreatus in the ventilation system was good at the wind velocity ranging from 0.2~0.5 fpms and expouring type. In other conditions, P. ostreatus generally showed the morphology closing to malformation.
Humidity ; Pleurotus* ; Ventilation ; Wind

This study investigated the biochemical changes of abnormal fruiting bodies grown under artificial environmental conditions in P. ostreatus. Abnormal mushroom growth during cultivation damages the production of good quality mushroom. This study showed that different environmental conditions produced morphological changes in the fruiting bodies of P. ostreatus. The fruiting bodies with morphological changes were collected and examined for differences in biochemical properties, enzyme activities, and carbohydrates composition. The enzyme activities assay showed that glucanase and chitinase activities decreased when the temperature was below or above the optimum cultivation temperature for P. ostreatus. The biochemical compositions of the abnormal mushroom were significantly different from the normal fruiting bodies. It was suggested that the changes in the biochemical composition of abnormal mushroom were caused by the unfavorable environmental conditions during mushroom cultivation.
Agaricales ; Carbohydrates ; Chitinase ; Fruit* ; Pleurotus*

The white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) is one of the most widely cultivated species of edible mushroom. Despite its economic importance, relatively little is known about the genetic diversity of this species. Illumina paired-end sequencing produced 43,871,558 clean reads and 69,174 contigs were generated from five offspring. These contigs were subsequently assembled into 57,594 unigenes. The unigenes were annotated with reference genome in which 6,559 unigenes were associated with clusters, indicating orthologous genes. Gene ontology classification assigned many unigenes. Based on genome data of the five offspring, 44 polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed. The major allele frequency ranged from 0.42 to 0.92. The number of genotypes and the number of alleles ranged from 1 to 4, and from 2 to 4, respectively. The observed heterozygosity and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.00 to 1.00, and from 0.15 to 0.64, respectively. The polymorphic information content value ranged from 0.14 to 0.57. The genetic distances and UPGMA clustering discriminated offspring strains. The SSR markers developed in this study can be applied in polymorphism analyses of button mushroom and for cultivar discrimination.
Agaricales* ; Alleles ; Classification ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Estrone ; Gene Frequency ; Gene Ontology ; Genetic Variation ; Genome ; Genotype ; Microsatellite Repeats*

Agaricus bisporus, commonly known as the button mushroom, is widely cultivated throughout the world. To breed new strains with more desirable traits and improved adaptability, diverse germplasm, including wild accessions, is a valuable genetic resource. To better understand the genetic diversity available in A. bisporus and identify previously unknown diversity within accessions, a phylogenetic analysis of 360 Agaricus spp. accessions using single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping was performed. Genetic relationships were compared using principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) among accessions with known origins and accessions with limited collection data. The accessions clustered into four groups based on the PCoA with regard to genetic relationships. A subset of 67 strains, which comprised a core collection where repetitive and uninformative accessions were not included, clustered into 7 groups following analysis. Two of the 170 accessions with limited collection data were identified as wild germplasm. The core collection allowed for the accurate analysis of A. bisporus genetic relationships, and accessions with an unknown pedigree were effectively grouped, allowing for origin identification, by PCoA analysis in this study.

Pleurotus species are commercially essential mushrooms and widely cultivated throughout the world. The production of Pleurotus mushrooms alone accounts for around 25% of that total cultivated mushrooms globally. In America and Europe, Pleurotus species are considered specialty mushrooms, whereas, in Korea, their cultivation is economically profitable, and it is one of the highly consumed species. Pleurotus species are predominantly found in tropical forests and often grow on fallen branches, dead and decaying tree stumps, and wet logs. Biographical studies have shown that the Pleurotus genus is among the more conspicuous fungi that induce wood decay in terrestrial ecosystems worldwide due to its formidable lignin-modifying enzymes, including laccase and versatile peroxidases. Pleurotus species can be grown easily due to their fast colonization nature on diversified agro-substrates and their biological efficiency 100%. Pleurotus mushrooms are rich in proteins, dietary fiber, essential amino acids, carbohydrates, water-soluble vitamins, and minerals. These mushrooms are abundant in functional bioactive molecules, though to influence health. Pleurotus mushrooms are finding unique applications as flavoring, aroma, and excellent preservation quality. Apart from its unique applications, Pleurotus mushrooms have a unique status delicacy with high nutritional and medicinal values. The present review provides an insight into the cultivation of Pleurotus spp. using different agro-waste as growth substances paying attention to their effects on the growth and chemical composition.

We designed 170 new simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers based on the whole-genome sequence data of button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), and selected 121 polymorphic markers. A total of 121 polymorphic markers, the average major allele frequency (M(AF)) and the average number of alleles (N(A)) were 0.50 and 5.47, respectively. The average number of genotypes (N(G)), observed heterozygosity (H(O)), expected heterozygosity (H(E)), and polymorphic information content (PIC) were 6.177, 0.227, 0.619, and 0.569, respectively. Pearson's correlation coefficient showed that M(AF) was negatively correlated with N(G) (−0.683), N(A) (−0.600), H(O) (−0.584), and PIC (−0.941). N(G), N(A), H(O), and PIC were positively correlated with other polymorphic parameters except for M(AF). UPGMA clustering showed that 26 A. bisporus accessions were classified into 3 groups, and each accession was differentiated. The 121 SSR markers should facilitate the use of molecular markers in button mushroom breeding and genetic studies.