Mushroom Industry Research Articles

Exploring Entrepreneur Intention in the Mushroom Industry with Government Support in Malaysia

The mushroom industry in Malaysia is experiencing significant growth due to its high return value and low production costs. The Malaysian government has implemented initiatives to encourage entrepreneurial activities. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives in influencing entrepreneurial intention remains to be determined. This study investigates the relationship between entrepreneurial intention in the Malaysian mushroom industry and the moderating effect of government support, drawing insights from the interplay between entrepreneurial self-efficacy, intention, and external support mechanisms. Numerous factors influence entrepreneurship intentions in the mushroom industry. Entrepreneurial self-efficacy plays a crucial role in shaping entrepreneurial intentions and behaviors, and individuals with high self-efficacy are more likely to perceive themselves as capable of successfully starting and running a new business. Government support can provide funding, tax advantages, subsidies, skills development, and advice services and create enabling environments for entrepreneurial efforts. The literature on government support and its impact on entrepreneurship intention reveals gaps that need further exploration. The theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) offers a comprehensive framework for understanding how entrepreneurship education influences self-efficacy, attitudes, and intentions. This study examines the capacity of government assistance to impact entrepreneurial intention in the Malaysian mushroom business, providing vital knowledge on how to promote a more robust environment for sustainable mushroom production. Additionally, this research aims to bridge the gap by investigating how government support moderates the relationship between entrepreneurial self-efficacy and intention in the Malaysian mushroom industry, offering valuable conceptual insights to policymakers for fostering a sustainable mushroom production sector.

Enhancing Morchella Mushroom Yield and Quality Through the Amendment of Soil Physicochemical Properties and Microbial Community with Wood Ash

Morchella mushroom is a nutritionally rich and rare edible fungus. The traditional cultivation model, which relies on expanding the cultivation area to meet market demand, is no longer sufficient to address the rapidly growing market demand. Enhancing the yield and quality of Morchella without increasing the cultivation area is an intractable challenge in the development of the Morchella mushroom industry. Against this backdrop, this study investigates the effects of different amounts of wood ash (WA) application on the yield and quality of Morchella, and conducts an in-depth analysis in conjunction with soil physicochemical properties and microbial communities. The results indicate that the application of WA improves both the yield and quality of Morchella, with the highest yield increase observed in the WA2 treatment (4000 kg/hm2), which showed a 118.36% increase compared to the control group (CK). The application of WA also modified the physicochemical properties of the soil, significantly improving the integrated fertility index of the soil (IFI, p < 0.05). The soil microbial community structure was altered by the addition of WA. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that pH and total potassium (TK) were the main environmental factors influencing the bacterial community, while pH, TK, and total nitrogen (TN) were the main factors influencing the fungal community structure. In addition, bacterial community diversity tended to increase with higher WA application rates, whereas fungal community diversity generally showed a decreasing trend. Furthermore, the relative abundance of beneficial microbial communities, such as Acidobacteriota, which promote the growth of Morchella, increased with higher WA application, while the relative abundance of detrimental microbial communities, such as Xanthomonadaceae, decreased. Partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) analysis of external factors affecting Morchella yield and quality indicated that WA application can alter soil physicochemical properties and soil microbial communities, thereby improving Morchella yield and quality. Among these factors, soil fertility was identified as the most important determinant of Morchella yield and quality.

Diseminasi dan Akselerasi Percepatan Produksi Jamur Tiram Melalui Studi Kasus Mesin Press Baglog Otomatis di UD Zaida Jamur Tiram

The program for implementing this activity aims to accelerate the production of oyster mushrooms at UD Zaida Oyster Mushrooms through dissemination and implementation of an automatic baglog press machine. This activity was carried out in collaboration between a team from the university and UD Zaida, integrating modern technology into traditional production processes. Through a series of training and workshops, implementation partners can operate machines effectively and understand optimal production management. The results of this activity show a significant increase in production capacity, where UD Zaida was able to increase oyster mushroom production output and reduce production waste. This program has also succeeded in increasing the skills and knowledge of workers, while providing a positive impact on the local economy through increasing income and employment opportunities. The dissemination of automatic baglog press machines has proven to be a sustainable solution that drives efficiency and productivity in the mushroom farming sector. This implementation activity recommends expanding the use of this technology to other regions as an effort to support the growth of the oyster mushroom industry at the national level.

The inoculation of Bacillus paralicheniformis and Streptomyces thermoviolaceus enhances the lignocellulose degradation and microbial communities during spent mushroom substrate composting

The burgeoning global mushroom industry has precipitated challenges related to the efficient and sustainable utilization of spent mushroom substrate (SMS). Composting is regarded as an efficient way for the ecological utilization of SMS. The addition of microbial inoculants can promote the composting process and improve the quality of compost products. This study introduced two bacterial inoculants, Bacillus paralicheniformis HL-05 (BP) and Streptomyces thermoviolaceus LC-10 (ST), into the composting process of SMS. The impact of these inoculants was evaluated through analyses of physicochemical properties, lignocellulose degradation, and high-throughput sequencing to elucidate their ecological roles and optimize the composting process. The results suggest that inoculation with BP and ST significantly prolonged the thermophilic stage by 2–3 days, representing an increase of 22.22–33.33%. Moreover, it boosted the degradation rates of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin by 18.37–29.77%, 35.74−50.43%, and 40.32−40.83%, respectively, compared to the control. Furthermore, inoculation rapidly altered the microbial community structure during the rapid temperature-rising stage and strengthened interconnections among composting microorganisms. The microbial inoculation substantially enhanced the proliferation of thermophilic lignocellulose-degrading microorganisms during the thermophilic stage, thereby facilitating the utilization of lignocellulose. This study proposes a novel and effective strategy for SMS composting using microbial inoculants.

Robotic Button Mushroom Harvesting Systems: A Review of Design, Mechanism, and Future Directions

The global demand for button mushrooms has surged in recent years, driven by their health benefits, creating a significant challenge for the mushroom industry in meeting this increasing demand. The increasing reliance on human labor, which is becoming unsustainable due to labor shortages and rising wage costs, highlights the urgent need for automated harvesting solutions. This review examines the integration of automated systems in button mushroom harvesting, delving into the key components such as robots, mechanisms, machine elements, programming, and algorithms. It offers a thorough analysis of the performance, design, operational mechanisms, and advantages and limitations of robotic systems, comparing the different methods employed in automated harvesting. This paper compares the performance of all the mushroom harvesters, including the commercially available ones with manual harvesting, and identifies their potential and limitations. The commercial harvesters are shown to pick 2000 mushrooms per hour on average, which is similar to how much a skilled worker picks at the same time. However, commercial automation harvesting has a relatively low success rate, high initial cost, high operating cost, and energy consumption, identifying areas for future research and challenges. This paper serves as a valuable resource for researchers and industry professionals striving to advance automated harvesting technology and improve its efficiency in meeting the rising demand for button mushrooms.

The Situation of Counterfeited and Mislabeled Commercialized Edible Mushrooms in China and the Development of Possible Controls

Edible mushroom products, encompassing both cultivated and wild varieties, are highly favored by consumers due to their rich nutritional profiles, including significant levels of proteins and amino acids. These mushrooms have extensive applications across the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, making the edible mushroom industry a vital component of global poverty alleviation efforts. Taking China as an example, the country produces over 45 million tons of edible mushrooms annually, accounting for 94.01% of the world’s total production, thereby establishing itself as the leading global producer of edible mushrooms. However, alongside the rapid expansion of this industry, concerns have emerged regarding counterfeit products and incidents of poisoning resulting from the consumption of toxic wild mushrooms. As follows, to advance the development and integrity of the mushroom production and processing industry: (1) This study presents the situation of counterfeit edible mushrooms and elucidates the factors contributing to the production of fraudulent products from both subjective and non-subjective perspectives. (2) We provide a detailed introduction to 22 varieties of freshly cultivated edible mushrooms and commonly encountered wild edible mushrooms in the Chinese consumer market, proposing the application of DNA barcoding, environmental DNA analysis, and other technologies for the future authentication of counterfeit mushroom products. (3) Concurrently, we present an overview of mushroom poisoning incidents in China from 2010 to 2023, emphasizing the challenges in mitigating the risks associated with wild mushroom consumption and preventing food poisoning, thereby necessitating heightened consumer caution. (4) Finally, we offer four recommendations aimed at ensuring the healthy, stable, and sustainable growth of the edible mushroom industry.

Optimalisasi Waktu Produksi Jamur Tiram Melalui Implementasi Sistem Penyiraman Berbasis IoT di UD Zaida Jamur Tiram

The optimization of oyster mushroom production time through the implementation of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based irrigation system at UD Zaida Jamur Tiram aims to enhance efficiency and production quality. This program integrates IoT technology to automate the irrigation process, allowing real-time control and monitoring of environmental conditions. Methods include the design and installation of an automatic irrigation system, technical training for operators, and performance evaluation through production data analysis. Results show a significant increase in time efficiency and consistency in oyster mushroom quality. The implementation of this IoT system is expected to support the sustainability and competitiveness of the oyster mushroom industry at UD Zaida.

Strategic insights for sustainable growth of mushroom farming industry in Bangladesh: A comprehensive evaluation using SWOT-AHP and TOPSIS frameworks

Mushroom farming using agri-waste as substrates can offer a sustainable solution to the food security challenges of inadequate and imbalanced diets. Developing strategies to exploit the potential of the mushroom industry fully is yet to be explored in Bangladesh. We, thus, conducted this study to investigate the challenges and opportunities associated with mushroom farming, as well as the characteristics of farms and employees engaged in this industry. A directional stepwise multiple regression analysis showed self-motivation, spawn cost, farm size, and training are the key influencing factors driving profitability. Farm surveys identified SWOT factors with 24 sub-factors cross-validated with expert consultations. The sub-factors were categorized as beneficial (strength and opportunities) and cost (weakness and threats) to formulate the SWOT strategies using the Grey-TOPSIS method. Results indicate a favorable scenario exists for the industry in Bangladesh, with significant opportunities (group weight 0.53) and minimal threats (group weight 0.09). We proposed 12 strategic alternatives for the sustainable growth of this industry. This top-ranking strategy is not only to secure funding (relative closeness, C+ = 0.87) but also to provide more accessible loan options envisioning a strategic expansion of business operations in Bangladesh. The evaluation highlighted the significance of collaboration with other mushroom farmers to maximize the gain in marketing that will substantially expand the local demand (C+ = 0.697). Besides, product diversification is also underscored as an important strategy for the growth of the industry. These prioritized SWOT strategies lay the groundwork for policy development, aiding decision-makers in steering the mushroom industry towards sustainable growth for developing countries like Bangladesh. Promoting such an eco-friendly industry will generate ample opportunities for women's employment and appreciable profit while contributing to environmental improvement through recycling agri-waste.

Mushroom-A Nutritious and Environment Friendly Crop: A Review

Mushroom is very nutritious and environment friendly crop additionally to numerous medicinal values. Mushroom contain low protein amount than the animals but way more in case of plants. Except iron it contain higher amount of fiber, essential amino acids and minerals. It is not only a vegetable of full of nutrients as Vitamin D but also it has a property that can prevent cancer, HIV-1 AIDS (a serious disease in human being) and others diseases. It is a crop which requires minimum resources and space to cultivate, which is grown in all over the world and with minimum cost throughout the year. It has a marvelous prospective and petition for growing a nutritious food item with superb taste from agricultural waste substrates that are rich and low expensive for growing, mushroom is a very environmentally friendly crop; lignocellulosic waste material can be also converted into food, feed and fertilizers by its cultivation. However, the consumption and production of mushrooms is much lower than other crops, so the investment in the mushroom industry is not very large.

Farm Labor Shortage in the Pennsylvania Mushroom Industry: A Gender‐Sensitive Comparison of Farmer and Farmworker Perspectives☆

AbstractU.S. farmers are facing a widespread labor shortage. Previous literature on the causes, mostly written by agricultural economists, has focused on the macro‐economic and political factors that have reduced the traditional agricultural labor supply from rural Latin America. In this article, we present a sociological approach that probes the settlement of immigrant farmworkers in rural communities and their associated family responsibilities as possible contributing factors to the farm labor shortage. We conducted online questionnaires with 23 mushroom farm and packing plant representatives and structured interviews with 105 women and men workers in the Pennsylvania mushroom industry. Our findings suggest that if compensation and scheduling were more amenable to raising families, the labor shortage would be less acute. Moreover, workers, particularly women, identified the need for more respectful treatment by their supervisors. We conclude that, while farm employers are taking measures to address these concerns, their efforts do not fully address the economic conditions and sense of disrespectful treatment that may contribute to the labor shortage. As a result, farm employers feel forced to turn to labor contracting services, whose practices may exacerbate the vulnerability of mushroom workers.

In vitro Assessment of Botanical Compatibility with Agaricus bisporus for Sustainable Disease Management

Button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) cultivation is a significant aspect of the global mushroom industry, the production of fruiting bodies is severely affected by fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens that can have an effect on yield and quality. Botanicals, such as plant extracts, have been reported to possess various bioactive compounds with potential benefits for mushroom growth and disease control. A lab experiment was carried out in the Department of Plant Pathology, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the compatibility of various botanicals viz., Allium sativum (garlic), Coriandrum sativum (coriander), Cuminum cyminum (jeera), Mentha spicata (pudina) with Agaricus bisporus in a Completely Randomised Design. In vitro evaluation was carried out using poison food technique at 10, 20 and 30% concentrations and 24, 48 & 72 hours of incubation. The maximum radial growth of Agaricus bisporus was observed in T0-Control (Agaricus bisporus) (17.86 mm), (16.82 mm) and (16.53 mm) and minimum in T3- Cuminum cyminum (jeera) (2.23 mm), (0.98 mm) and (0.39 mm) at 10, 20 and 30 percent concentration respectively. Maximum percentage of inhibition was observed in T3 - Cuminum cyminum (jeera) (87.51 %), (94.11 %) and (98.24 %) at 10, 20 and 30 percent concentration respectively.

Extraction of chitin from flammulina velutipes waste: A low-concentration acid pretreatment and aspergillus Niger fermentation approach

In recent years, with the booming of the edible mushroom industry, chitin production has become increasingly dependent on fungi and other non-traditional sources. Fungal chitin has advantages including superior performance, simpler separation processes, abundant raw materials, and the absence of shellfish allergens. As a kind of edible mushroom, flammulina velutipes (F. velutipes) also has the advantages of wide source and large annual yield. This provided the possibility for the extraction of chitin. Here, a procedure to extract chitin from F. velutipes waste be presented. This method comprises low-concentration acid pretreatment coupled with consolidated bioprocessing with Aspergillus niger. Characterization by SEM, FTIR, XRD, NMR, and TGA confirmed that the extracted chitin was β-chitin. To achieve optimal fermentation of F. velutipes waste (80 g/L), ammonium sulfate and glucose were selected as nitrogen and carbon sources (5 g/L), with a fermentation time of 5 days. The extracted chitin could be further deacetylated and purified to obtain high-purity chitosan (99.2 % ± 1.07 %). This chitosan exhibited a wide degree of deacetylation (50.0 % ± 1.33 % – 92.1 % ± 0.97 %) and a molecular weight distribution of 92–192 kDa. Notably, the yield of chitosan extracted in this study was increased by 56.3 % ± 0.47 % compared to the traditional chemical extraction method.

Efficacy of disinfectants and heat treatments against green mould in casing soil and button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) yield

Button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) is the predominant mushroom species cultivated around the world. In the button mushroom cultivation, casing soil is one of the main substrate inducing emergence of mushrooms but presence of Trichoderma aggressivum f. aggressivum (causal agent of green mould disease) in casing soil causes devastating yield losses. However, little is known about management of the green mould in button mushroom cultivation. The aim of this study was to examine efficacy of several disinfectants and heat treatments against T. aggressivum f. aggressivum in casing soil and mushroom yield. In this respect, by considering yield (total amount of sporophores) values, in vivo experiments were separately set up according to randomized block design with three replications. As a result, compared to controls, disinfectants [hydrogen peroxide (H202), formaldehyde (CH2O), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl)] and heat treatments (60, 90 and 120 °C) significantly (P˂0.01) increased mushroom yields up to 18.74 and 24.06% in the treated plots, respectively. Biological efficiency values ranged from 87.16 to 105.72% in the disinfectant treatments, while they varied from 93.15 to 95.68% in the heat treatments. However, applications of the disinfectants at high doses had negative influence on growth of A. bisporus. The overall results suggest that the tested disinfectants and heat treatments may significantly increase button mushroom yield by suppressing development of T. aggressivum f. aggressivum in casing soil. The present study not only reveals management practices that can be used against the green mould in the in vivo but also presents new knowledge for mushroom industry.

IoT Enabled Mushroom Farm Automation with Machine Learning

Mushroom farming has gained prominence due to its significant contribution to the global market. One major challenge for mushroom cultivation is maintaining optimal environmental conditions, specifically temperature and humidity. Traditional farming methods, prevalent in many parts of the world, lack precise control over these parameters, often leading to poor yield. This paper presents an innovative approach combining the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine Learning (ML) for mushroom farm automation. The proposed system employs the ESP8266 microcontroller with specific agricultural sensors for smart monitoring. To regulate the farm's environmental conditions, ML algorithms predict mushroom farm weather states: mild, normal, and hot. The ensemble ML model, comprising five classifiers – Decision Tree, Logistic Regression, K-nearest neighbor, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest – delivers a commendable accuracy of 100% when combining predictions, surpassing the performance of individual classifiers. This integrated IoT and ML approach promises to revolutionize real-time automation and cultivation practices in the mushroom industry.

Fitness of two mushroom flies Bradysia minpleuroti (Diptera: Sciaridae) and Coboldia fuscipes (Diptera: Scatopsidae) fed on two edible mushrooms

AbstractDictyophora rubrovolvata and Pleurotus ostreatus are economically important mushrooms in China. Bradysia minpleuroti Yang et Zhang and Coboldia fuscipes (Meigen, 1830) are important mushroom flies that damage the two mushrooms. In this study, we used the age‐stage, two‐sex life table method to assess the fitness of B. minpleuroti and C. fuscipes when they were respectively fed on D. rubrovolvata and P. ostreatus. Our results showed that the first (2.39 days) and second (1.41 days) instar larvae, pupa (2.87 days) and total longevity (18.19 days) of B. minpleuroti were shorter when fed on P. ostreatus than fed on D. rubrovolvata (3.46, 1.86, 3.10 and 20.19 days). B. minpleuroti had similar fecundity when fed on the two edible mushrooms. B. minpleuroti had higher values of net reproductive rate (R0, 87.73), intrinsic rate of increase (r, 0.2604 day‐1), and finite rate of increase (λ, 1.2974 day‐1) and shorter mean generation time (T, 17.19 days) when fed on P. ostreatus than fed on D. rubrovalvata (26.96, 0.1659 day‐1, 1.1805 day‐1, 19.85 days). The developmental period of larvae and pupa stages of C. fuscipes were significantly different fed on the two edible mushrooms. Female fecundity, total longevity, R0, r, λ and T of C. fuscipes were not significantly different between the two edible mushrooms. We found that fitness of B. minpleuroti larvae had higher fitness when fed on P. ostreatus than fed on D. rubrovolvata. However, there was no significant difference in the fitness of C. fuscipes larvae when fed on the two edible mushrooms. This study has provided valuable data and insights by delving into the adaptability of two significant pests on two edible mushrooms, thereby facilitating the development of more effective pest management strategies and contributing to the advancement of the mushroom industry. For instance, it provides guidance on the appropriate timing for preventive measures and treatment.

An Exploration into “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) CO2 Enrichment Chambers: Utilising Grey Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quél) Respiration to Improve Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Seedlings Growth

The endeavour to employ CO2 from natural sources to improve plant growth is often challenging, especiallyin tropical climates. While mycelium bags from the mushroom industry can generate CO2, they need indoorconditions with controlled temperature, high humidity, and low light. These conditions are not present inopen fields, leading to low CO2 production. Inspired by the ancient clay evaporative cooling device calledthe zeer pot, a new solution was developed to address this problem. The eventual design was a confinementchamber that housed the mycelium bags and the okra seedlings. The chamber conditions were sufficientlyconducive for the mycelium bags to produce an ambient CO2 level of around 800 ppm during the day. Theresulting okra seedlings under this high CO2 concentration of natural origin had a notable increase in overallbiomass accumulation (+ 277%), carbon assimilation rate (+103%) as well as improved water use efficiency(+95%) compared to seedlings grown under ambient CO2 level. These promising findings not only provedthe capability of mycelium as a natural CO2 generator but also as an additional economic potential for thefarmers to gain income from the CO2-enriched crops as well as the harvested mushroom bodies at the timeof mycelium bags maturity. Furthermore, this simple innovation opens the avenue for furtherinterdisciplinary research in other agricultural efforts to improve crop yield and quality.

Unearthing the therapeutic benefits of culinary-medicinal mushrooms for humans: Emerging sustainable bioresources of 21st century.

Global interest in mushroom farming techniques has grown in the last few years. Despite not making up a large amount of the human diet at the moment, the nutritional worth of mushrooms has prompted their usage. The three main segments of the global mushroom industry are wild, culinary (edible), and medicinal mushrooms. The quality food that mushrooms provide can be utilized to build agricultural ecosystems that are more sustainable for increasing productivity and enhancing the effectiveness of resource usage. This is mostly because mushrooms can be utilized for the recycling of biomass and remains from crop production. Culinary-medicinal mushrooms are becoming more and more important because of their nutrient density, dietary value, and health advantages. Given its many bioactive components, which include polysaccharides, proteins, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and secondary metabolites, mushrooms have been utilized extensively as health foods. These mushrooms exhibit pharmacological activities and possess prebiotic and antibacterial capabilities. This review provides information on the latest advancements in the sustainable cultivation of mushrooms, particularly with nontraditional substrates, and their potential therapeutic uses. Furthermore, some of the newest developments and difficulties in the production of mushrooms are explored.

Sustainable Utilization of Mushroom By-Products Processed with a Combined Osmotic Dehydration Pretreatment and a Hot-Air-Drying Step.

Mushroom production and consumption are gaining increased interest due to their unique flavor and nutritional value. However, in the mushroom industry, large amounts of by-products are generated, which have a high negative environmental and economic impact. In this study, an osmotic dehydration process followed by hot-air-drying was applied to mushroom stems to produce dried mushrooms as the end product. The osmotic dehydration conditions (concentration of hypertonic solution, specifically, 10-30% maltodextrin and 20-40% oligofructose; a treatment time of 40-80 min; and a temperature range of 30-50 °C) were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The results showed that a four-factor three-level Box-Behnken experimental design was effectively implemented to evaluate the effect of the process parameters and identify the optimal osmotic dehydration conditions for producing osmotically dehydrated mushrooms. The main factor affecting mass transfer was the osmosis temperature, and the optimal conditions were found to be 38 °C, 40% oligofructose and 19.3% maltodextrin as the osmotic agents, and 80 min of immersion time. Moreover, the results showed that osmotic pretreatment, in the optimal conditions, significantly reduced the required drying time of the by-products compared to traditional hot-air-drying, especially at milder drying temperatures. Consequently, the required energy was also reduced by at least 40% at 50 °C.

Comprehensive investigation on non-volatile and volatile compounds in Auricularia auricula from different regions by UPLC-MS/MS-based metabolomics and GC-IMS

Auricularia auriculata from two regions of China were studied for their metabolite fingerprints, metabolic pathways, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using UPLC-MS/MS and GC-IMS techniques in conjunction with multivariate statistical analysis approaches. A total of 881 metabolites were identified by UPLC-MS/MS, of which 39 compounds displayed significant differences. Acetyl-l-carnitine, N-acetyl-l-alanine, PC (18:3(9Z,12Z,15Z)/0:0), 4-fumaryl-acetoacetate, S-2-hydroxybutanedioic acid, and 4-guanidinobutyric acid belonged to the characteristic non-volatile metabolites. The umami-tasted amino acid, essential amino acid was abundant in Heilongjiang and Shaanxi province, respectively. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that differential metabolites were mainly enriched in lipid and amino acid metabolism. The GC-IMS study revealed 64 different types of VOCs, including acids, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ketones, and other compounds. A. auricula from Shaanxi province was abundant in 2,3-pentanedione, 1-octen-3-one (dimer), 2-acetylfuran, beta-pinene (monomers, dimers) and alpha-pinene. While the primary distinctive VOCs of A. auricula from Heilongjiang province were butyl acetate, methyl acetate and propyl acetate. PCA and OPLS-DA allowed for clear differentiation between the A. auricula samples from the two regions. This research established foundations for investigating potential biomarkers for A. auricula and has important applications values for the creation and implementation of traceability systems within the edible mushroom industry.

Seasonal discrepancy of airborne fungal diversity and community structure in Lentinula edodes factory

ABSTRACT Understanding the composition and community of airborne mycobiota associated with fungal diseases was critical for mushroom production and disease control. In this study, we first investigated airborne fungi concentrations in different function areas of a Chinese shiitake factory. Then, high-throughput sequencing was employed to characterise the airborne fungal compositions and communities of this factory during high and low incidence seasons of shiitake artificial log rot disease (SLRD). The lowest concentration of culturable airborne fungi was observed in spawn-running greenhouse (250–450 CFU/m3), while the airborne fungi concentrations in cultivation greenhouses were up to 7,000–8,500 CFU/m3. The airborne fungal communities across distinct function areas showed convergence. The four major mushroom contaminants, Trichoderma, Penicillium, Cladosporium, and Aspergillus were the stable core fungi. Seasonal shifts in compositions, abundances, and communities of airborne fungi were systematically analysed and found to be associated with SLRD. Compared with the SLRD low incidence season, the airborne fungal communities were rich but uneven in the SLRD high incidence season, in which Trichoderma was dominant. Further analysis indicated that the favourable temperature and humidity caused the proliferation of Trichoderma and then affected the fungal communities, which presented an SLRD-seasonal variation. SLRD incidence could be significantly reduced by reasonably increasing the ambient temperature. For the first time, we comprehensively characterised the dynamics of airborne fungal communities across the SLRD occurrence in the shiitake factory. Findings here also provided valuable information for fungal exposures in the mushroom industry.