This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional composition of various edible and medicinal mushrooms and assess their potential as alternative food sources in response to increased meat consumption, which poses environmental and health risks. The crude protein, crude fat, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, and vitamin C contents of 17 edible and medicinal mushroom species, including Flammulina velutipes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus eryngii, Agaricus bisporus, Lentinula edodes, and Wolfiporia extensa, were systematically analyzed. Pleurotus ostreatus‘Suhan 2’ and P. eryngii‘No. 2’ showed high crude protein and carbohydrate contents, suggesting excellent potential as alternative protein and energy sources. Flammulina velutipesvarieties ‘TO22’ and ‘Aram’ exhibited relatively high crude fat contents, whereas P. eryngii‘No. 2’ and P. ostreatus‘Suhan 2’ had high vitamin C levels, suggesting a beneficial role in immune enhancement. In contrast, the medicinal mushroom W. extensa had relatively low protein and dietary fiber contents, limiting its potential as an alternative protein source compared to the other edible mushrooms. Nonetheless, it may provide other health benefits. The present study provides foundational data for the utilization of mushrooms as sustainable alternative food resources, supporting efforts to mitigate environmental impacts of meat production and improve dietary health.

This study analyzed patent trends for technologies that convert horticultural crop residues into mushroom substrates and developed mycelium-based utilization technologies. Environmental pollution caused by disposable plastics and Styrofoam has increased. Therefore, the demand for innovative and eco-friendly solutions has substantially increased. Agricultural residues such as fruit pruning residues and citrus waste provide economically and environmentally viable alternatives to imported raw materials because of their rich cellulose and lignin contents. Recent studies have shown that substrates containing these residues can produce mushrooms of equivalent quality as conventional sawdust-based media, thereby reducing production costs and improving resource independence. In addition, mushroom mycelia have been developed as sustainable materials for non-animal leather, packaging, building, and insulation. A patent analysis of ECOVATIVE confirmed important innovations in processing, material mixing, and product applications. The results provide the foundation for building an integrated system for utilizing horticultural residue resources with mycelium-based materials, as well as offers strategic insights and future directions for the research and development of sustainable industrial materials. The results also demonstrate the potential of agricultural byproducts to reduce dependence on imported substrates, lower cultivation costs, and mitigate environmental impacts, ultimately contributing to a circular economy for the development of sustainable materials.

Oyster mushrooms were analyzed to confirm the effect of installing a convection fan on the uniformity of the environment inside the cultivation house, the quantity of fruiting bodies, and marketability for stable production. When using a convection fan, it was confirmed that the temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 concentration were maintained more uniformly than when not used.As for the characteristics of the fruiting bodies, the quantity per bottle was 177.3 g when using a convection fan, which was 17% higher than when not used, and the individual weight was 49% higher. In addition, the cap diameter, cap thickness, and stem thickness increased slightly in the convection fan treatment, and the stem length was shorter.

This study was conducted to confirm whether domestic fruit tree pruning residues can replace sawdust, which is the main ingredient of mushroom medium. The five types of fruit tree pruning residues collected were from apples, pears, peaches, grapes, and citrus. The basic components of these residues were analyzed. The pH ranged from 5.2 to 7.0, the Total carbon(T-C) ranged from 46.0% to 47.2%, the Total nitrogen(T-N) ranged from 0.5% to 0.9%, and the moisture content ranged from 12.4% to 14.2%, which was identified as an appropriate range for growing mushrooms. In order to confirm the possibility of mycelial growth of oyster mushroom "Suhan", column tests were conducted based on the conventional medium(poplar sawdust 49.5: cotton seed hull 27.3: beet pulp 12.7: cotton seed meal 10.5, v/v). As a result of incubation at 25°C for 28 days, grape branches showed the fastest growth at 143 mm compared to the control, which showed 135 mm. The yield per bottle was comparable, with grape branches(134g/bottle) and control(139g/bottle). Additionally, the quality of the fruiting bodies was comparable across all Processed lots. It means grape branches can be used as alternative sawdust materal. In the future, it is expected that using by-products as substitutes for carbon sources and main ingredients will help reduce farm production costs and protect the environment.

This study examined domestic consumption trends in the development of mushroom-based alternative food products. It found that 85.5% of consumers were aware of alternative foods, with a higher recognition rate among younger age groups and variations based on household composition and monthly income. Additionally, 70% of consumers familiar with alternative foods had tried them. Among those who had not, taste (16%) and purchasing challenges (15%) were the primary barriers. Minced meat was the most commonly consumed alternative (25%), while dumplings (7%) and burgers (1%) were less popular. Notably, dumplings and burgers showed the highest potential for development using mushroom-based ingredients. These findings provide valuable foundational data for advancing mushroom-based alternative food products.

This study evaluated the quality characteristics of Flammulina velutipesduring storage using modified atmosphere films of different thicknesses (20, 40, and 60 μm). The films included high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). F. velutipeswere stored at 1°C for six weeks, and quality was assessed based on weight loss, respiration rate, firmness, color parameters, β-glucan content, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activities (2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis [3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid] radical scavenging activities). All HDPE and LDPE films were more effective than the conventional film (polypropylene) at maintaining mushroom quality, particularly in the later stages of storage. In particular, LDPE films with thicknesses of 20 and 40 μm showed superior performance at reducing respiration rates and weight loss, while mushrooms packaged with these films retained higher TPC and antioxidant activities. The β-glucan content also remained more stable in mushrooms stored using HDPE and LDPE films. Although we did not evaluate changes in sensory properties or nutritional components, such as vitamins, our results suggest that the type and thickness of packaging films significantly influence the preservation of the quality of F. velutipesduring storage. Additionally, LDPE films with thicknesses of 20 and 40 μm were found to be the most suitable packaging materials for the distribution and storage of F. velutipes. Furthermore, these findings are expected to provide valuable insights into the selection of optimal packaging materials to extend the shelf life and maintain freshness during the postharvest handlingof F. velutipes.

In this study, Pleurotus ostreatus were grown in bottles at temperatures set to 15°C, 20°C, and 25°C inside the cultivation room. Changes in temperature, CO2 concentration, and humidity inside the bottles were measured, and growth characteristics according to the temperature conditions were evaluated. CO2 concentration increased overall as the temperature increased and was particularly stable at 20°C, suggesting that 20°C is the optimal condition for the physiological respiration of P. ostreatus . While humidity was relatively constant at 15°C, it decreased over time at 20°C and was maintained at a stable level at 25°C, suggesting that water retention capacity may occur at high temperatures. As a result of the growth investigation, the yield per bottle and individual weight were the highest at 20°C, confirming that 20°C is the most suitable temperature condition for the growth of oyster mushrooms. At 25°C, the yield per bottle was maintained but the individual weight decreased and the color tended to change. These results suggest that the interaction between CO2 concentration, humidity, and temperature has a significant effect on the growth and quality of oyster mushrooms, and that it is effective to control the cultivation room temperature to 20°C for optimal growth.

Flammulina velutipesis highly valued and widely consumed because of its nutritional and functional benefits, and its global demand is steadily increasing. However, rapid quality deterioration and short shelf life create an urgent need for effective preservation and advanced quality assessment of Flammulina velutipes. The aim of this review was to identify methods that reduce postharvest quality loss, extend shelf life, and optimize storage and distribution practices for Flammulina velutipes. Chemical treatments (including antioxidants, 1-methylcyclopropene, and edible coatings), low-temperature plasma, and innovative nanocomposite-based packaging have been effective in maintaining Flammulina velutipesquality after harvest. Nevertheless, further discussions on the economic feasibility, safety, and sustainability of these technologies are essential for their practical and industrial applications in Flammulina velutipespreservation.

This study was conducted to selection and investigate appropriate conditions for mass production of antagonistic microbes to control cobweb disease caused by Cladobotryum mycophilum. A grampositive bacterium was isolated from spent substrate of Agaricus bisporus and showed significant antagonistic activity against Cladobotryum mycophilum. The bacterium was identified as Bacillus altitudinis. based on the cultural, biochemical and physiological characteristics, and 16S rRNA sequence. The isolate is saprophytic, but not parasitic nor pathogenic to cultivated mushroom whereas it showed strong inhibitory effects against C. mycophilum cells in vitro. The control efficacy of B. altitudinis HC7 against cobweb disease of C. mycophilum was up to 78.2% on Agaricus bisporus. The suppressive bacterium may be useful for the development of biocontrol system. To define the appropriate conditions for the mass production of the Bacillus altitudinis HC7, we have investigated appropriate culture conditions and effects of various nutrient source on the bacterial growth. The appropriate initial pH and temperature were determined as pH 6.0 and 30oC, respectively. The appropriate concentration of medium elements for the growth of pathogen inhibitor bacterium(Bacillus altitudinis HC7) was determined as follows: 3.0% soluble startch, 10% soytone, 1.0% (NH4)2HPO4, 1.0 mmol KCl, and 0.5% L-asparagine.