Effects of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Lighting on the Ergosterol Content of Beech Mushrooms (L yophyllum ulmarium )

Abstract

Beech mushrooms (Lyophyllum ulmarium) consist of two varieties: brown (BBM) and white (WBM). The mushrooms contain ergosterol that can be converted to vitamin D2. WBM and BBM samples were exposed to light-emitting diode (LED; red, yellow, green, blue, white and blue plus white) and fluorescent lamp (FL) light by turning the light source on and off for 5 and 10 min, repetitively, for 10 days. LED exposure was more effective for fruit body development than FL exposure. Also, ergosterol contents in WBM exposed to yellow, green and blue LED (171.55, 155.66 and 160.21 mg/100 g, respectively) were significantly higher than those subjected to FL (143.58 mg/100 g). Therefore, considering ergosterol contents and growth of mushrooms together, yellow LED for WBM and blue LED for BBM were selected as the optimal treatments. LED treatment could be used as a new method to cultivate beech mushrooms for industrial production. Practical Application This study was conducted to examine the effects of a LED source on the ergosterol content and growth of white and brown beech mushrooms. Our study showed that LED exposure was more effective for fruit body development than FL exposure. Also, the ergosterol contents in both WBM and BBM exposed to yellow, green and blue LED were higher than those exposed to FL after 10 days. Based on the results in this study, LED treatment could be used as a new method to cultivate beech mushrooms for industrial production as it significantly increases ergosterol content and growth rate.