The content of phenolic substances in freshly collected fruit bodies o
f several basidiomycete genera varied in the range 2.35-9.05 mg g(-1),
following closely the trend of a normal function. It was necessary to
use a polyphenoloxidase-inhibiting substance to obtain reliable analy
sis. The content of phenolics decreased, during 3 d at room temperatur
e and following freezing at -20 degrees C.