MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Hydrophilic Metabolite Composition of Fruiting Bodies and Mycelia of Edible Mushroom Species (Agaricomycetes)

Summary

This research compared the chemical composition of mushroom caps versus their underground root-like structures in four common edible mushrooms. The study provides important insights into the nutritional value of different mushroom parts. Impacts on everyday life: • Helps consumers understand nutritional differences between mushroom parts • Could lead to more efficient mushroom production methods • Enables better quality control of mushroom products • May result in more affordable mushroom-based supplements • Helps prevent fraud in mushroom products through chemical fingerprinting

Background

Mushrooms consist of two main components: the fruiting body (stalk and cap) and the mycelium that supports it underground. While fruiting bodies are the most commonly consumed part, they take longer to harvest compared to mycelia. Understanding the metabolite differences between these components in popular edible mushrooms is important for both nutritional and commercial purposes.

Objective

To analyze and compare the polar metabolite content between fruiting bodies and mycelia of four widely consumed mushrooms in Taiwan: Agrocybe cylindracea (AC), Coprinus comatus (CC), Hericium erinaceus (HE), and Hypsizygus marmoreus (HM).

Results

The fruiting bodies of AC, CC, and HM contained higher levels of essential amino acids compared to their mycelia. HE fruiting bodies showed the lowest essential amino acid content. Trehalose was the main carbohydrate in most samples, except for AC mycelia where glucose dominated. Adenosine, uridine, and xanthine levels were generally higher in fruiting bodies than mycelia, except in HM. Organic acid and sugar alcohol content showed minimal differences between fruiting bodies and mycelia.

Conclusion

Each mushroom species demonstrated a unique metabolic profile. The metabolic profiles of fruiting bodies and mycelia were most similar for CC and HE, suggesting their mycelia could potentially substitute for their fruiting bodies. The unique polar metabolite fingerprints could be used to identify adulteration in mushroom products.
  • Published in:International Journal of Medical Mushrooms,
  • Study Type:Analytical Research,
  • Source: 10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2023050034
Scroll to Top