In this study, we examined the effects of gamma irradiation dosage on the mycelial growth of Auricularia auriculajudae and performed analyses of fruiting body yield, growth characteristics, taste, fragrance, and mineral composition. Assessments of mycelial growth in response to gamma irradiation at different intensities revealed an enhancement in the growth of fungi exposed to irradiation at 200 Gy. Fruiting body yield was also highest at 200 Gy, followed by 800 Gy and the control group. On the basis of these observations, we subsequently applied gamma ray doses of 200 and 800 Gy to examine the effects of irradiation on fungal quality characteristics. In terms of the taste of fruiting bodies, we detected no significant differences among the control, 200 Gy, and 800 Gy groups. Contrastingly, with respect to fragrance, we found that fungi treated with 200 Gy were characterized by a pattern that differed from those of the control and other treatment groups. Furthermore, whereas we detected no significant difference among treatments with respect total dietary fiber content, calcium content was found to be higher in the treatment groups compared with the control group, with the highest content being measured in fungi exposed to 800 Gy irradiation. Copper content was confirmed to be higher in the control group, whereas there were no significant differences between the fungi irradiated with 200 and 800 Gy. Contrastingly, the highest levels of zinc were detected in response to 200 Gy irradiation, followed by 800 Gy. Collectively, our findings thus indicate that gamma irradiation can contribute to promoting increases in the fruiting body yield and mineral contents of mushrooms.

• 김정헌(공주대학교 식물자원학과) | Jeong-Heon Kim (Department of Plant Resources, Kongju National University, Yesan 32439, Korea)
• 이진우(공주대학교 식물자원학과) | Jin-Woo Lee (Department of Plant Resources, Kongju National University, Yesan 32439, Korea)
• 박태민(공주대학교 식물자원학과) | Tae-Min Park (Department of Plant Resources, Kongju National University, Yesan 32439, Korea)
• 권순재(한국원자력연구원 첨단방사선연구소) | Soon-Jae Kwon (Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup 56212, Korea)
• 진창현(한국원자력연구원 첨단방사선연구소) | Chang-Hyun Jin (Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup 56212, Korea)
• 박윤진(공주대학교 두과녹비자원센터) | Youn-Jin Park (Kongju National University Legumes Green Manure Resource Center, Yesan 32439, Korea)
• 장명준(공주대학교 식물자원학과) | Myoung-Jun Jang (Department of Plant Resources, Kongju National University, Yesan 32439, Korea) Corresponding author