EFFECTS OF IRRADIATION AND DRYING ON VOLATILE COMPONENTS OF FRESH SHIITAKE (LENTINUS-EDODES SING)

Fresh shiitake (Lentinus edodes Sing) was irradiated with doses of 0.5 , 1 and 2 kGy using Co-60. Effects of gamma-irradiation and drying on the volatile composition of shiitake were studied by gas chromatograph y (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry. Irradiation above 1.0 kGy could inhib it the growth and mould decay of fresh shiitakes after harvesting. Irr adiation with 2 kGy increased the eight-carbon volatile components of fresh shiitake, Treatment at 1 kGy irradiation of fresh shiitake produ ced some new volatile compounds in the dry product, such as methylethy l disulphide, sulphinylbis methane, methyl(methylthio)ethyl disulphide and N-(3-methylbutyl) acetamide. The eight-carbon compounds mostly di sappeared after drying. The amount of sulphur-containing volatile comp ounds in dried shiitake became lower during irradiation. Irradiation w ith doses of 1 or 2 kGy of fresh shiitake did not increase the volatil e content of shiitake after drying. (C) 1998 SCI.