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Accumulation of Selected Metal Elements in Fruiting Bodies of Oyster Mushroom

Summary

This research studied how different strains of oyster mushrooms accumulate various metals in their caps and stems when grown on straw. The findings have important implications for both food production and environmental cleanup. Impacts on everyday life: – Helps identify mushroom strains that can produce safer, more nutritious food products – Enables better selection of mushroom varieties for cleaning up contaminated environments – Provides guidance for mushroom growers to produce fortified products with specific nutritional benefits – Helps ensure food safety by understanding how mushrooms might accumulate harmful metals – Demonstrates potential for using selenium to reduce toxic metal uptake in mushrooms

Background

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is a commercially, gastronomically, and biotechnologically important fungus first cultivated during WWI in Germany. It is known for its ability to grow on agricultural waste while producing nutritious food. The species has various medicinal properties including immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects. However, mushrooms can accumulate both beneficial and harmful metals from their growing substrates, making it important to understand their metal accumulation patterns.

Objective

The study aimed to evaluate 59 oyster mushroom production strains for their ability to accumulate selected metals in the cap and stipe when grown under identical model conditions on straw substrate. The research also examined synergistic and antagonistic relationships between metals during uptake, both with and without selenium fortification.

Results

Metal concentrations in dry fruiting bodies ranged from 1.7-22.4 mg/kg for Al, 2.6-9.7 mg/kg Ba, 199-4560 mg/kg Ca, 1.7-12.0 mg/kg Cu, 12-120 mg/kg Fe, 16,000-49,500 mg/kg K, 876-2400 mg/kg Mg, 0.39-11.0 mg/kg Mn, 46-920 mg/kg Na and 11-920 mg/kg for Zn. Higher concentrations of Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, and Zn were found in caps, while Ba accumulated more in stipes. No significant differences between caps and stipes were found for Al, Ca and Na. Selenium fortification altered metal uptake relationships, showing synergism with Ni, Co and Hg, while antagonism was observed with Mn, Cr, Pb and Cd.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated significant strain variability in metal accumulation patterns among oyster mushroom varieties. The findings can help select strains with specific metal accumulation properties for either fortified food production or environmental remediation. The research also revealed that selenium fortification can modify metal uptake relationships, potentially helping mitigate accumulation of hazardous metals.
  • Published in:Foods,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.3390/foods11010076
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