Physiological factors affecting mycelial growth of Agaricus blazei CJ-01 II. Degradation of culture-source and acceleration of mycelial growth by compost preparation

Agaricus blazei CJ-01 is a medicinal mushroom cultivated on the compost of the tops and leaves of sugar cane and bagasse. The influence of the degrada tion of the culture-source by this compost preparation on mycelia, as well as the fruit-body yield was researched. The results indicated that the prog ression of the degradation leads to acceleration of mycelial growth and inc reased fruit-body yield. observation of the degradation bq diffuse reflecta nce Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Fourier transform Raman spe ctroscopy suggested that p-hydroxycinnamic acids in culture-source were deg raded in the early stage of the compost preparation. followed by degradatio n of carbohydrates. The stage in which almost p-hydroxycinnamic acids disap peared was also the stage in which remarkable growth of ms celia occurred. On the other hand, the mycelia grew favorably on p-hydroxycinnamic acids-fr ee culture prepared by alcohol extraction or alkali-treatment of the cultur e-source. These results suggested that p-hydroxycinnamic acids may control the growth of mushroom A. blazei CJ-01.