Earticle

The acute toxicity of a crude extract of maitake mushroom(Grifola frondosa practical compound: GFPC) and the mixture of maitake mushroom extract and white jelly mushroom extract(Tremella fuciformis practical compound: TFPC). For acute oral toxicity test, male and female ICR mice were randomly assigned to five groups, consisting of 12 animals each, six males and six females, received either GFPC or the mixture of GFPC and TFPC, at dose of 0, 2,000 and 5,000mg/kg b.w. by orally(10ml/kg b.w.). For the period of 48hr, clinical signs, body weight and food intake were measured. All animals survived during the study and did not show any clinical signs. Food intake was mildly decreased in both GFPC and the mixture of GFPC and TFPC treated groups, however, body weight gain showed no significant difference among the groups. It is suggested that LD50 of GFPC and the mixture of GFPC and TFPC by oral administration was estimated to be over 5,000mg/kg in both sexes of mice. These results conform that GFPC and the mixture of GFPC and TFPC are safe and no toxic at average dietary level.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mineral difference about Phellinus from cultivated on mulberry, oak and elm by ICP test. The major mineral components were Ca, K, Fe, P, Al and Na. In Ca, fruiting bodies from cultivated on mulberry were shown about 2~4 times highest, and in case of K was fruiting bodies from cultivated on oak shown about 2 times highest as against the other sample groups. Especially, Na was fruiting bodies from cultivated on oak shown about 10 times highest as against the other sample groups. In this study, fruiting bodies on P. linteus and P. baumii from cultivated the same kind of material lumber are similar mineral components, and we can’t really find much their difference . As a results, what kind of mineral component content had showed depend on material lumber.

In this study, growth rates and enzyme activities of mushroom mycelium were investigated in each cereals. Cultivation on hulled barley resulted in slightly faster mycelial growth as compared to other substrates. Enzyme activities were measured in different periods. In result, α-amylase activity was higher in Pleurotus ostreatus and Phellinus linteus cultured cereals, whereas β-amylase activity was higher in Pleurotus ostreatus and Fomitella fraxinea cultured. Protease level did not affect kinds of cereal except Phellinus linteus. The color values lightness decrease by Basidiomycetes cultivation and redness and yellowness increased.

We investigated the morphological traits, hardness and color of fruting bodies on eight strains according to changes of the humidities in mushroom house in Flammulina velutipes. The morphological traits like length and thickness of stipe, diameter and thickness of pilei didn't show any relations to humidity. Variation of these traits were rather showed by strains. ASI 4065 and ASI 4031 produced the longest stipes and ASI 4103 did the shortest ones. Fruiting body of ASI 4103 showed the most thickness of stipe, diameter and thickness of pilei. The pilei of ASI 4065, ASI 4021 and the stipe of ASI 4153 was the thinest. Brightness (L) values of white strains were increased at the low humidity except ASI 4021. But chroma (a, b) value showed little variation according to the humidity. L value of brown strains usually increased at the low humidity and a chroma (a, b) value showed little variation according to the humidity. But the chroma (a) value of pilei increased and the chroma (b) value of pilei decreased at the hight humidity. Most strains were brighter at pilei than at stipes. Hardness were not any relations to the humidity. In general, hardness of stipes were higher than that of pilei and their degrees were different according to strains. Hardness of ASI 4021 was the highest and ASI 4166 was the lowest. White strains were higher than brown strains at the hardness. As a result, hardness was rather affected by strains than by humidity.

To elucidate the effect of humidity to the characteristics related to mushroom cultivation, five white strains and four brown strains of Flammulina velutipes were cultivated and investigated on their characters. The periods for fruiting initiation, growth and harvest were a little decreased when humidity increased after peak at 75%. Brown strains showed fast fruiting than white ones. ASI 4103 was the fastest and ASI 4166 and ASI 4153 were the latest. The productivity of ASI 4166 and ASI 4149 were the best in all conditions. In general, white strains showed high yields at 75% and brown ones did at 95%. Individual mushroom weight decreased and water content of mushroom increased in most strains when humidity increased.

Common mushroom production per area has been decreased and are up to less than 50% of the 1980 production. To determine the main reasons for the decrement, we performed this study. Two main reasons, which are mushroom disease and the low compost quality because of mechanized compost making, were assessed. In mechanized mushroom farms, nitrogen concentration in compost was lower than recommended and total compost quantity was about 100-150 kg/3.3m2, which was also lower than usual. Our study revealed that higher nitrogen concentration (about 1.5%) in compost gave better production. Also, use of large amount of compost appeared to increase the mushroom production, although more insects and disease problems were observed. The relationships between the presences of microorganisms and occurrence of diseases were assessed by monitoring the microorganism densities near the mushroom farms. Higher number of microorganisms were observed near the mushroom farm area, compared to control region, Daechon beach. Most contaminating molds were found in the circulating fans, tunnel and culture room floor. The bacterial isolates were collected from the air in mushroom culture room and killed with 0.005% Benzalkonium solution, indicating treatment of Benzalkonium are the effective methods to sanitize the mushroom culture room.

This study was performed to determine the optimal concentration of carbon dioxide, which effects mushroom growth and yield. It was shown that the periods for fruiting initiation, growth and harvest of Flammulina velutipes were increased when the CO2 concentration was raised. In general, those characteristics were less affected in brown strains than in white ones. Especially brown strain ASI4103 was susceptible to changes in CO2 concentration. Yields per bottle and individual mushroom weight also decreased in most strains when CO2 levels increased. We were unable to designate any tendency in the number of fruiting bodies due to the large variation within each respective strain. Finally, water contents in the fruiting bodies were found to decline under high CO2 concentrations.