The objective of this study was to investigate the anticancer effects of EMPS (edible mushroom mycelium polysaccharide: Tremella fuciformis) in animal models with colorectal cancer induced by AOM/DSS. The experimental groups consisted of Nor (normal), NC (AOM/DSS), EMPS (EMPS 50, EMPS 100), and PC (Fluorouracil). The NC group had the highest number of colon tumors, whereas it was observed that tumor occurrence was significantly reduced in the EMPS consumption group. The expression of Bcl-2, an apoptosis inhibitor, was significantly lower in the EMPS 50 & 100 and PC groups. On the other hand, the mRNA gene expression of Bax, a factor that induces apoptosis, was significantly higher in the EMPS 50 & 100 and PC groups compared to the NC group. The mRNA expression levels of TNF-α and COX-2 significantly increased in the NC group, but showed a significant decrease in the EMPS and PC groups, indicating inhibition of the cancer-promoting response of cells. At the phylum level of the mice's intestinal microbial composition, the proportion of Bacteroidetes tended to decrease, while the proportion of Firmicutes tended to increase with EMPS administration. This suggests that changes in the gut microbiota caused by inflammation can be influenced by dietary intake.

Airborne bacteria are an important environmental factor that affects the hygiene of mushroom cultivation houses, as they can act as contaminants or pathogens in mushroom cultivation. To determine the distribution of airborne bacteria in the air of wood ear mushroom cultivation houses, air sampling and temperature and humidity measurements were conducted at three wood ear mushroom farms located in Iksan and Wando in 2022. Sampled air was analyzed to measure bacterial concentration levels and identify bacterial species. There was no significant difference in temperature and humidity changes detected between the three mushroom growing houses. Additionally, the concentration of bacteria in the air did not exceed 800 CFU/m², which is the maximum amount of airborne bacteria allowed by the Ministry of Environment’s indoor air quality maintenance standards. Eleven species of bacteria belonging to 11 genera were isolated and identified from air samples. These include five species of Micrococcales, four species of Bacilli, one species of Actinomycetia, and one species of Mycobacteriales. Of the 11 species identified, five are known to affect human health. However, no mushroom pathogens or species causing food poisoning were found.

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.

본 연구는 향버섯이 발생하는 임지를 대상으로 식생구조와 토양 특성을 구명하여 임지 및 환경의 필수적인 기초자료 를 제공하고자 수행하였다. 연구대상지는 신갈나무가 우점하고 있는 신갈나무군락과 굴참나무, 신갈나무, 소나무 등이 혼재하고 있는 혼효림 형태인 굴참나무군락으로 구분되었다. 또한 전자의 군락에는 실새풀, 후자의 군락에는 애기나리 와 대사초가 지표종으로써 유의한 수준으로 나타났다. 두 군락 모두 유효인산과 pH, 모래, 점토가 강한 상관성을 나타내었으며, 토양의 높은 유기물 함량과 약산성 pH는 향버섯 발생에 관련된 것으로 판단된다. 하위 층위에 나타나는 종들은 상위 층위에 출현한 종들이 실현 지위를 확보하고 있기 때문에 지속적으로 우점하는 것으로 나타났다. 해당 입지는 북-동의 방위로 비교적 습윤한 입지에 분포하였고, 낙엽층 깊이가 얇고 암석노출도가 낮아 토양이 발달한 것으로 보였다. 선정된 향버섯 발생지들은 교란 또는 외부 간섭으로부터 적응성이 높은 종을 중심으로 식생이 발달하고 있었다. 이와 같은 사실을 통해 향버섯이 발생할 수 있는 임분을 간접적으로 파악할 수 있으며, 인공재배 시 향버섯 발생 촉진을 위한 기초자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

The present study was carried out to investigate the concentration and species diversity of airborne fungi in thermophilic mushroom cultivation houses. Fungal concentration measurements were performed in April and May 2022 for a Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation house, in July and August 2023 for a Pleurotus sajor-caju and Agaricus blazei cultivation house, and in June, July and August 2023 for a Pleurotus pulmonarius, Pleurotus sajor-caju and Calocybe indica cultivation house. The airborne fungal concentration was 2.95 × 102 CFU/m3~105CFU/m3, above 105CFU/m3, and 1.12 × 103 CFU/m3~ 9.17 × 103 CFU/m3 in the three cultivation houses, respectively. A total of 8 genera and 22 species of airborne fungi were isolated from three mushroom cultivation houses. 5 genera and 7 species were identified from P. ostreatus cultivation house. Furthermore, 4 genera 6 species were found from A. blazei and C. indica cultivation house. In addition, 5 genera and15 species were isolated from P. pulmonarius, P. sajor-caju and C. indica cultivation house. Among the fungi isolated, the class of Eurotiomycetes was the most common. Among the 22 fungal species, Aspergillus flavus, A. ochraceus A. sydowii, A. tubingensis, A. westerdijkiae, Penicillium brevicompactum, P. citrinum, and P. steckii have been reported as harmful species to mushrooms, food, and human.

Mushroom-based vegan meat has thus far been used as a food for humans instead of pets. However, based on its texture and nutritional content, it is considered suitable for processing into pet treats. In the present study, we developed a prototype dog chew with a sweetening coating added to a fungal mycelium mat obtained by culturing the Basidiomycetous fungus Trametes orientalis. The palatable coating applied to the mycelium mat by plasticizing the mat with glycerol improved the taste and aroma of the existing mat, and the dog consumed it without difficulty. Future improvements may include a softening process to reduce the chewiness level and a procedure to reduce the crude fiber content. Mycelium-mat-based dog chews, manufactured using eco-friendly materials and processes that are not harmful to the environment are expected to enter the market as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional pet treats. Controlling their physical properties require further study.

Airborne bacteria in mushroom growing environments are a potential risk of contamination in commercial mushroom production. Controlling contamination in mushroom farms requires understanding the bacterial ecology in the cultivation environment. This study was conducted to investigate the concentration and species diversity of floating bacteria in a thermophilic mushroom cultivation room. Temperature, humidity, temperature, humidity, and bacterial concentration measurements were performed in April and May 2022 for a Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation house, in July and August 2023 for a Pleurotus sajor-caju and a Agaricus blazei cultivation house, and in June, July and August 2023 for a Pleurotus pulmonarius, Pleurotus sajor-caju and Calocybe indica cultivation house. The airborne bacterial concentration was 5.27 × 103~105 CFU/m3, 3.81 × 102 ~1.37 × 103 CFU/m3, and 2.55 × 102 ~1.37 × 102 CFU/m3 in the three cultivation houses, respectively. A total of 23 genera and 37 species of airborne bacteria were isolated from the three mushroom cultivation houses. 12 genera and 18 species were identified from P. ostreatus cultivation house. Furthermore, 4 genera and 4 species were found from A. blazei and C. indica cultivation house. In addition, 11 genera and 18 species were isolated from P. pulmonarius, P. sajor-caju and C. indica cultivation house. Among the bacteria isolated, the Bacilli class was the most common, followed by Gammaproteobacteria. Among the 37 bacterial species, it was determined that Bacillus cereus, B. licheniformis, Cedecea neteri, Exiguobacterium acetylicum and Raoultella terrigena could negatively affect humans or foodstuff. Cedecea neteri is also known to cause diseases among mushrooms.

We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of shiitake mushroom and kelp (SMK) mixture extracts in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine RAW 264.7 cells. Treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with LPS significantly increased NO (nitric oxide) production, pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β), and inflammation-related genes (COX-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)). In cytotoxicity testing using RAW 264.7 cells, SMK mixture extracts in the range of 1-16 μg/mL did not inhibit cell proliferation. However, SMK mixture extracts significantly inhibited NO production in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05). SMK treatment significantly decreased TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ, and IL-1β levels compared to the LPS group, and similarly, pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA levels also decreased. SMK mixture extracts reduced the mRNA expression of COX-2 and iNOS in RAW 264.7 cells compared to LPS (p<0.05). The above results show that SMK mixture extracts suppressed the inflammatory response induced by LPS. In particular, the extracts were shown to regulate the inflammatory response by suppressing the expression of inflammatory cytokines and inflammation-related enzymes.

국내 큰느타리버섯은 매년 수출이 증가하고 있는 주요 신선 농산물 중 하나이다. 긴수염버섯파리는 농업, 특히 버섯생산에 피해를 주는 악 명높은 해충이다. 긴수염버섯파리의 유충은 주로 농작물에 직접 피해를 유발하고 성충은 몇몇 위험한 진균 병원체의 매개체 역할을 한다. 본 연구 에서는 전자빔, 엑스선, 그리고 감마선의 조사선량에 따른 긴수염버섯파리의 발육 및 생식에 미치는 영향을 평가했다. 또한 큰느타리버섯이 채워 진 박스 안에서 긴수염버섯파리를 제어할 수 있는 최적선량을 찾기 위해 방사선 및 에너지량에 따른 실증실험을 수행하였다. 그 결과 전자빔, 엑 스선, 감마선 모두 50 Gy에서 긴수염버섯파리의 발육 및 생식이 억제되었다. 또한 큰느타리버섯이 채워진 수출용 박스 상, 중, 하 위치에서 긴수 염버섯파리는 전자빔 150 Gy, 엑스선 100 Gy, 그리고 감마선 50 Gy에서 발육 및 생식을 억제하는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과들은 수출 검역 통합관리 시스템 구축의 기초자료로 제공될 수 있다. 또한 농산물의 안전성 확보와 수출경쟁력 강화에 기여하리라 사료된다.

This study aimed to address the increasing demand for technologies preventing mushroom fly damage. By monitoring the annual occurrence patterns of pests over several years and accumulating data, we conducted an analysis to evaluate the efficacy of preventive measures applied before the surge in mushroom fly infestation, typically observed in May. For preemptive control, physical measures involved installing air curtains at cultivation facility entrances and placing sticky traps and insect traps around entry points to block external entry and reduce internal insect density. Additionally, we applied an organic agricultural material, Dalmatian chrysanthemum extract, weekly alongside chemical control measures. To assess the reduction in mushroom fly populations, yellow sticky traps (15×25 cm) were placed at three locations within the mushroom cultivation facility, and the occurrence patterns before and after implementing preventive measures were compared. Compared to conventional practices, the application of preventive techniques resulted in a significant reduction, with a 60% decrease from 15 levels of mushroom flies/m² to 6 levels of mushroom flies/m² in May and a 40% decrease from 10 levels of mushroom flies/m² to 6 levels of mushroom flies/m² in June. While achieving over 50% efficacy during the peak mushroom fly season with preventive measures, we identified complementary actions such as blocking external sources (gaps in cultivation facility doors) and maintaining cleanliness around cultivation facilities (proper disposal of spent substrate) for further improvement. Comprehensive analysis and safety studies, including correlation analysis with contaminants and pathogens, are recommended to ensure the widespread adoption of mushroom fly preventive techniques for safe and stable mushroom production in the agricultural sector.

Flammulina velutipesis a popular edible mushroom in South Korea, accounting for approximately 30% of the total mushroom export in the country. Despite its significant position in the domestic mushroom industry, approximately 65% of the cultivated F. velutipes are foreign varieties. To secure variety rights and enhance competitiveness in the export market, there is a need to develop domestic varieties with stable production and excellent shelf life. We focused on breeding a new variety called 'Baekwoon' through mon–mon crossing, using 'Baekseung' and an international collection strain (KMCC02260) as parents. Baekwoon exhibited faster mycelial growth rates at 15 °C and 25 °C and higher mycelial growth across four tested media compared to that of the control variety. Under bottle cultivation, Baekwoon had a mycelial cultivation period that was shorter by approximately 2 days compared to that of the control. The yield of Baekwoon was 228.0±10.9 g, 8.3% more than that of the control. Furthermore, Baekwoon displayed distinct morphological features characterized by a larger pileus and thicker stipe compared to that of the control variety. Genetic tests confirmed that Baekwoon is genetically different from both parental strains and the control variety. It is expected that the newly developed F. velutipes variety, Baekwoon, will be evaluated for its adaptation in different regions and actively promoted in the field, ultimately increasing the market share of domestic varieties.

This study was conducted to investigate the reasons for the decreased importation of fresh Shiitake mushrooms into Korea after implementation of the Korea–China Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Monthly time-series data from January 2009 to December 2022 were analyzed using regression analysis and vector autoregression (VAR) models to determine the relationship between the amounts of fresh and spawn Shiitake mushrooms imported. The analysis revealed that a major reason for the decreased importation of fresh Shiitake mushrooms was an increase in mushroom spawn imports after Korea–China FTA implementation. The same results were obtained from the VAR model analysis. However, in terms of the dynamic changes in amount of fresh shiitake mushrooms imported, it was confirmed that the impact of the change in mushroom spawn imports could increase the amount of Shiitake mushrooms imported.

The fungus Alternaria alternata, responsible for causing brown to black spotting on numerous fruits and vegetables globally, was identified in 2022 as the causative pathogen of brown spot disease in potatoes in Korea. In pursuing potential inhibitors against A. alternata growth, we evaluated 15 mushroom culture filtrates: eight from Trametes spp. and seven from Polyporus spp., known for their antibacterial and anticancer properties. Antifungal activity was assessed by exposing each filtrate to A. alternata on a paper disc. Four filtrates displayed inhibitory action against the fungus, albeit with mild effects. Our findings highlight the potential of Trametes and Polyporus fungi as emerging antifungal candidates, offering promise in preventing potato brown spots.

In this study, Sparassis crispa(cauliflower mushroom), which is rich in beta-glucan, was pulverized using ultrafine grinding technology for its potential utilization as a diverse food ingredient. The physical and antioxidant properties of cauliflower mushroom powder were evaluated at various grinding times. The results showed that as the grinding time of cauliflower mushroom increased, the average particle size significantly decreased (p<0.05). Additionally, the water-holding capacity, swelling capacity, and water solubility index of cauliflower mushroom increased significantly(p<0.05). Based on the analysis mentioned above, cauliflower mushroom prepared as a superfine powder for 5 minutes exhibited superior physical and chemical properties as well as antioxidant characteristics and is expected to be widely used in various foods.