ACS: Recent advances in mushroom research

So, mushroom-zombies recently took over a fictional world, but in real life, they're really not so scary. These fungi range in shape from broad, plate-like portobellos and gangly enokis to a version resembling a giant, shaggy lion's mane. And now scientists are finding ways to grow mushrooms on new materials, as well as incorporate them in more sustainable products. Below are some recent papers published in ACS journals that report insights into additional applications for mushrooms.

"Uptake of Ultrashort Chain, Emerging, and Legacy Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Edible Mushrooms (Agaricus spp.) Grown in a Polluted Substrate"Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry March 8, 2023When food waste and manure are composted by microorganisms, they create gas that can be collected and burned to generate electricity. As a step toward a circular agricultural system, some people have suggested cultivating edible mushrooms on the final compost. However, the material could contain pollutants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This team found that two types of mushrooms grown on PFAS-containing compost accumulated small to negligible amounts of PFAS, and they'd still be considered safe for humans to consume.

"Self-Healing Properties of Fibers Constructed from Mushroom-Derived Chitinous Polymers"ACS Sustainable Chemistry & EngineeringJan. 31, 2023Here, researchers prepared textile fibers from dried white button mushrooms, Agaricus bisporus. They extracted chitin and glucan from the fungi and spun the resulting thick paste into long strands. In the presence of water, cut or damaged fibers repaired themselves in 30 seconds, returning to their original shape and strength, and woven fibers demonstrated larger-scale self-healing. This proof-of-concept study indicates that mushrooms are a potential feedstock for renewable fibers and sustainable textiles.

"Cellulose Fiber Rejects as Raw Material for Integrated Production of Pleurotus spp. Mushrooms and Activated Biochar for Removal of Emerging Pollutants from Aqueous Media"ACS Omega Jan. 31, 2023In this paper, scientists showed that oyster and king trumpet mushrooms could thrive on the cellulose fibers leftover from recycling paper. Both varieties rapidly colonized the fibers and grew as well as, or slightly better than, mushrooms living on birch sawdust. And after the mushrooms were harvested, the team converted the spent cellulose fibers into activated biochars that adsorbed pharmaceuticals from water, extending the lifecycle of the waste.

"Mushroom-Mediated Reductive Bioconversion of Aldehyde-Rich Essential Oils for Aroma Alteration: A Rose-like Floral Bioflavor from Citronella Oil"Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry Jan. 13, 2023Naturally derived food and beverage flavorings are in high demand by consumers. To generate a new one, this group added edible mushroom cultures to citronella essential oil. In less than 12 hours, the Neofomitella polyzonata cultures transformed the original oil into a product with floral, sweet, fresh and rosy notes. When panelists drank water flavored with the rose-like oil, they indicated that it would be acceptable to consumers. Therefore, mushrooms could be a sustainable route for converting essential oils into commercially valuable flavorings or fragrances, the researchers say.

More information:
Reporters can request free access to these papers by emailing newsroom@acs.org.

Provided by American Chemical Society