This study was conducted to develop a renewable and sustainable bio-material to replace polystyrene (EPS) in fungal-mycelium-based composite using agricultural by-products. Four mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum, Fomitella fraxinea, Phellinus linteus, and Schizophyllum commune) were cultured in an oak sawdust plus rice bran substrate to select the mushroom with the best growth. The mycelia of G. lucidum showed the best growth. To investigate the optimal mixing ratio with spent mushroom substrate (SM) and oak sawdust (OS), samples were prepared by mixing SM and OS at ratios of 50%:50%, 60%:40%, and 80%:20% (w/w). Each substrate was then inoculated with G. lucidum. G. lucidum showed the best mycelial growth of 140.0 mm in the substrate with SM and OS mixed at a 60%:40% ratio. It was also found that the substrate with SM and OS mixed at a 60%:40% ratio had the best handling properties. The compressive strength of mycelial materials inoculated with G. lucidum was in the range of 300–302 kgf mm-1, and the materials were four times stronger than polystyrene materials. These results indicate that substrates comprising spent mushroom substrate mixed with oak sawdust can be successfully upcycled to mycelium-based composite materials using G. lucidum. This represents a sustainable approach.

In this study, the characteristics and taste components of six different oyster mushroom cultivars (Gonji-7ho, Santari, Baekseon, Chunchu, Suhan, and Heuktari) were analyzed and compared. The Heuktari mushroom pileus had the lowest brightness index (32.8) and remained dark (brightness index: 30.5) even after blanching. The moisture content of the mushrooms was approximately 90%. The salinity and sugar contents were highest in Heuktari (5.7% and 7.1%, respectively). Gonji -7ho had the highest contraction rates, with a length contraction rate of 16.4% and thickness contraction rate of 23.9%. The total amino acid content was highest in Heuktari (537.8 mg/100 g), but the glutamine content contributing to umami taste was highest in Santari (59.4 mg/100 g) and the aspartic acid content was highest in Baekseon (33.1 mg/100 g). Among the 5?-nucleotide components, guanosine monophosphate, which enhances umami taste, was highest in Baekseon (0.7 mg/g). Baekseon was also calculated to have the highest umami taste concentration based on amino acid and nucleic acid contents (12.7 g/100 g). The results of this study serve as valuable basic data on the physicochemical characteristics of oyster mushroom cultivars grown in Korea.

A new brown variety of Flammulina velutipes, referred to as ‘Asakgold,’ was bred by crossing two monokaryons isolated from the “Geumhyang2ho” and “Garlmoe” varieties. The pileus color of the new variety is light brown and its shape is hemispherical. During bottle cultivation, the period necessary for mycelial growth was 40 days, 9 days for primordia formation and 15 days for fruiting body growth. The total cultivation period was 64 days, which was similar to that of the control variety “Yeoreumhyang1ho.” The pileus of the new variety was similar and the stipe was thinner and longer than that of the control. The number of valid stipes per bottle was 495, which was 37 % higher than that of the control (362), and the yield was 214 g, 16 % higher than that of the control (185 g). The -glucan content was 28.69 %, which was observed to be 1.6 times more than that of the control.

In this study, the protein content and functional changes in soybeans cultured with Phellinus linteus HN00K9 were analyzed. P. linteus HN00K9 was cultured on soybeans. The crude protein content in soybeans cultured with HN00K9 (PMS) was 41.99%, which was higher than that in soybeans not cultured with the mushroom (UCS). The total free amino acid content in PMS increased to 39,963 mg/100 g, which was higher than that in UCS (36,817 mg/100 g). In particular, in PMS, glutamic acid accounted for 18.5% of the total amino acids at 7,413 mg/100 g. The total polyphenol content in PMS was 2.66 mg GAE/g, which was more than 45% higher than the amount in UCS (1.45 mg GAE/g). Additionally, PMS showed a DPPH radical scavenging activity of 33.3%, which was 3 times higher than that exhibited by UCS (11.5%), reflecting its high antioxidant content. Therefore, the PMS in this study has potential for use as a functional food material.

In this study, research trends in mushroom science were examined using North Korean journal articles published in 1978–2023. Researchers in each field reviewed 450 papers and finally selected 429 papers, excluding 21 papers classified in different fields. The number of researchers was 872, and the number of authors per paper was 2.03. Kim Cheol-Hak published the most academic papers in the field of mushroom science in North Korea, with 12 papers. The number of research articles increased annually, from 7 in 1985, 12 in 1998, 11 in 2008, and 27 in 2020, and has especially increased rapidly since the mid- 2010s. The study by mushroom type was as follows: 42 pine mushrooms (17.8 %), 25 oyster mushrooms (10.6 %), 23 Ganoderma sp. (9.8 %), 19 shiitake mushrooms (8.1 %), 17 button mushrooms (7.2 %), and 16 manna lichens (6.8 %). This study is considered meaningful in reviewing the research status and technology level in North Korea through analyzing North Korean academic journals in the field of mushroom science for the first time.

The importance of biocomposites has increased owing to the changes in global consumption trends and rapid climate change. Technologies using mushroom mycelium cultivation, and molding methods for mycelial application have gained attention as potential strategies for producing eco-friendly composites. Currently, mushroom mycelia are used as raw materials for food and cosmetics; however, research on their utilization as biocomposite materials is limited. Therefore, the potential for the development of mushroom mycelium-related products and technologies is high. This review analyzes the domestic and international patent application trends related to the technologies for composite (packaging, insulation, adhesives, and leather) and food (substitute for meat) materials using mushroom mycelium, as an eco-friendly biocomposite material, to provide objective patent information that can further research and development (R&D) in this field.

This study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Auricularia auricula-judae ethanol extract (AEE) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis mice. The highest levels of total polyphenols and DPPH radical scavenging activity were observed in AEE. Also, NO production was reduced in a dose-dependent manner in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). AEE was suspended in distilled water and administration per oral at different doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg body weight every day with 3% DSS in drinking water for 7 days. The sample AEE 100 and 300 mg/kg significantly increased body weight, colon length and decreased disease activity index (DAI) score. Histological features showed that 100 and 300 mg/kg of AEE suppressed edema, mucosal damage and the loss of crypts induced by DSS. The serum levels of TNF- and IL-6 were measured in acute colitis mice using ELISA kits. Levels of TNF- and IL-6 in serum were significantly decreased by topical application of AEE. Therefore, AEE increases antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and it is thought that it can effectively help prevent colitis.