PROTEASE ACTIVITY IN AGARICUS-BISPORUS DURING PERIODIC FRUITING (FLUSHING) AND SPOROPHORE DEVELOPMENT

Protease activity from sporophores and mycelium of the mushroom Agaric us bisporus was assayed during periodic cropping (flushing) and from s porophores during maturation. When the sporophores were harvested at t he same developmental stages (pins or buttons) during cropping, proteo lytic activity of the sporophores was found to oscillate with the same periodicity as the flushing cycle. For pin mushrooms (an early stage of development), peaks of activity occurred during the interflush peri ods, whereas for button mushrooms (a later stage of development) peak proteolytic activity coincided with the periods of maximum production. The proteolytic activity in the mycelium remained low and varied litt le with time. Of the tissues within the sporophore, gill tissue had a higher activity than the stipe or pileus. The changes in activity duri ng sporophore development or maturation depended on the period in the flushing cycle when the sporophore was initiated. The results are disc ussed in relation to the possible role and regulation of flush co-ordi nated proteases.