Physiochemical Changes in Agaricus Bisporus (Lange) Singer Due to Infection of Verticillium Fungicola (Preuss) Hasseber

Abstract

Abstract Thapa, C. D. and Jandaik, C. L. 1986. Physiochemical changes in Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Singer due to infection of Verticillium fungicola (Preuss) Hasseber. The pathogen Verticillium fungicola has a worldwide distribution both in temperate and tropical regions and has been reported to attack the fruit bodies of Agaricus bisporus in major mushroom producing countries. Physiochemical changes in A. bisporus (healthy and diseased fruit bodies) at different stages of growth were studied to see the comparative changes due to the infection of V. fungicola. The analyses for total nitrogen, crude proteins, digestible proteins, ash content, crude fat, minerals (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca, K, P) were carried out as per methods described by Lau (1982), whereas the qualitative amino acids detections were carried out with the help of unidirectional ascending paper chromatography. The pilei and stipes were also analysed separately. There was no appreciable change in moisture and dry matter contents of healthy and diseased fruit bodies. The nitrogen content was less in diseased samples at all the stages except the pinhead stage where slight increase was recorded. The same was true in case of crude protein and digestible proteins. There was slight increase in ash contents of pinhead (pileus), button (pileus) and fully open (pileus and stipe) stages of diseased mushrooms as compared to their healthy counterparts. Regarding minerals, K and Ca were more in diseased samples of all the stages/parts analysed. The same was true for iron content. There was no appreciable change in contents of Zn, Cu and Mn due to infection of V. fungicola. However, contents of Mg were more in diseased pilei and stipes of pinhead stage and reverse was true in button and fully open stages. Qualitative amino acids analysis of healthy and diseased mushrooms did not reveal any notable variation (s).