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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Booneville, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #242834
Title: EFFECTS OF MANAGEMENT FACTORS ON THE CONCENTRATION OF A HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYSACCARIDE FRACTION FROM LOG-GROWN SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS (Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler)

Author
item KIMMONS, TOM - Shirley Community Development Corporation
item PHILLIPS, MARK - Shirley Community Development Corporation
item Brauer, David

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/9/2010
Publication Date: 3/9/2010
Citation: Kimmons, T.E., Phillips, M., Brauer, D.K. EFFECTS OF MANAGEMENT FACTORS ON THE CONCENTRATION OF A HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYSACCARIDE FRACTION FROM LOG-GROWN SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS (Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry vol 58:4331-4335 (2010) DOI:10.1021/jf904268m

Interpretive Summary: Shiitake mushroom growers may be able to use the presence of health promoting constituents as a marketing tool to promote sales of their products for premium prices. There are few reports on the effects of management protocols for log-grown shiitakes on the concentrations of constituents to guide growers. ARS scientist from Booneville, AR, and researchers from the Shirley Community Development Corporation and the Shiitake Mushroom Center in Shirley AR studied the effects of shiitake strains, mushroom cap development, and length of saprophytic association on the concentrations of a carbohydrate fraction that includes lentinan, a compound identified as promoting human health. The content of this carbohydrate fraction in mushrooms varied as much as 8-fold during a fruiting among the 12 tested strains. Results suggest that growers interested in maximizing the content of this beneficial carbohydrate in their mushrooms should use shiitake strains NN-430 and 569-430 and harvest mushrooms from newly inoculated logs and in the bud stage. These results are of interest to shiitake growers and consumers.

Technical Abstract: Shiitake mushrooms have a reputation as a healthy food. Growers may be able to use the presence of health promoting constituents as a marketing tool to promote sales of their products for premium prices. There are few reports on the effects of management protocols for log-grown shiitakes on the concentrations of constituents to guide growers. This report summarizes several studies that examined the effects of shiitake strains, mushroom cap development, and length of saprophytic association on the concentrations of a high molecular weight polysaccharide fraction that includes lentinan (HMWP). HMWP content of mushrooms varied as much as 8-fold during a fruiting among the 12 strains tested in these studies Results also indicate that the concentrations of HMWP in shiitake mushrooms are influenced by the fungal genetics and the characteristics of the environment. General trends include: 1) mushrooms harvested at more immature stages of development (during bud break or before veil break) tended to have higher concentrations of HMWP; 2) the initial harvests of mushrooms from an inoculated log tend to have higher concentrations of HMWP. Results suggest that growers interested in maximizing the HMWP content of their mushrooms should use shiitake strains NN-430 and 569-430.