Cultivo del hongo comestible Pleurotus ostreatus var. florida sobre fibra de coco y pulpa de café / Cultivation of the edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus var. florida on coconut fiber and coffee pulp

Se cultivó una cepa de Pleurotus ostreatus var. florida en fibra del cocotero (Cocos nucífera), sola y en fresco, y mezclada con pulpa de café en las proporciones 1:1 y 1:2, con diferentes períodos de fermentación. La eficiencia biológica para la fibra de coco solo fue de 80.6+- 9.1 porcentaje; para la mezcla de fibra de coco con pulpa de café en la proporción 1:2, a los tres días de fementación, fue de 152.2 +- 18.3 porciento, y en la proporción 1:1 la máxima eficiencia biológica fue de 120.5+- 22.6 porcentaje a los cinco días días de fermentación

Boletáceos y gonfidiáceos del Estado de México: I. Discusiones sobre su distribución en diferentes tipos de vegetación, asociaciones ectomicorrizógenas, fenología y comestibilidad / Boletaceae and gomphidiaceae from the State of Mexico: I. Discussion about their distribution in different types of vegetation, ectomycorrhizal association, phenology, and edibility

Se anlistan 31 especies de boletáceos y gonfidiáceos del Estados de México. Se discute su comestibilidad, distribución ecológica, fenología y asociaciones ectomicorrizógenas. La comestibilidad de Chroogomphus jamaicensis (Murr.)O.KMiller, es registrada por primera vez

Producción natural de Cookeina sulcipes (Ascomycotina, pezizales) en la región de Tapachula, Chiapas (México) / Natural production of Cookeina sulcipes (Ascomycotina, pezizales) in the Tapachula region, Chiapas (Mexico)

Se evaluó la producción del hongo comestible Cookeina sulcipes, en dos cuadrados de 100 m² cada uno, en una plantación de cacao dentro de la región tropical de Tapachula, Chiapas. La producción de cuerpos fructíferos de 31.7864.62 kg/ha

Nuevos registros de hongos del Estado de Veracruz, v. nuevos aphyllophorales y agaricales / New recordss of fungi from the State of Veracruz, v. new aphyllophorales and agaricales

Se registran 7 especies de Alphyllophorales y 8 de Agaricales procedentes principalmente de los bosques de coníferas de la región del Cofre de Perote y del bosque mesófilo de montaña de la zona centro del estado de Veracruz. Aleurodiscus mirabilis (Berk & Curt) Hoehn. / Litsch, Gloecantharellus purpurascens (Hesles) Sing., Albatrellus dispansus (Lloyd) Canf.& Gilbin., Agaricus volvatulus Heinem. & Goos., Stropharia pseudocyanea (Desm.) Morgan y Suillus reticulatus Thiers se citan por primera vez de México; de las nueve especies restantes se amplía su distribución a otras localidades de Veracruz o en algunos casos a otras entidades del país (Baja California, Chiapas, Distrito Federal, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Puebla y Querétaro). Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull.: Fr.) Murr., se registra por primera ves en los estados de Chiapas y Puebla. Se presentan las observaciones realizadas sobre el material tipo de Marasmius semihirtipes Peck (=Collybia, Halling) de E.U. A. y de un material europeo de Stropharia caerula Kreisel

Comparison of the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of twenty unsaturated sesquiterpene dialdehydes from plants and mushrooms.

Twenty unsaturated sesquiterpene dialdehydes were tested for antimicrobial, algaecidal, cytotoxic, and mutagenic activity. In addition to the known antifungal activity, polygodial (1) also exhibited antibacterial and cytotoxic activity; epipolygodial (2) was slightly less active. The most active compounds were: isovelleral (7), isoisovelleral (8), velleral (20), and methylmarasmate (6). With the exception of velleral (20), they also exhibited mutagenic activity in the Salmonella/microsome assay. Derivatization to less polar compounds usually increased the antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects and reduced mutagenicity, while the introduction of hydroxyl groups had the reverse effect.

Agaritine does not mediate the mutagenicity of the edible mushroom Agaricus bisporus.

Ethanolic extracts of the edible mushroom Agaricus bisporus displayed a direct-acting mutagenic response in various Salmonella typhimurium strains, TA104 being clearly the most sensitive. Incorporation of an activation system derived from the liver of mice, hamsters or Aroclor 1254-induced rats failed to increase the mutagenic response. The mutagenic response of ethanolic extracts from various types of mushroom, containing different levels of agaritine (range 0.3-6.5 g/kg fresh weight), was very similar and did not correlate with the agaritine levels. Moreover, use of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, the enzyme catalysing the activation of agaritine, as an activation system did not enhance the mutagenicity of the mushroom ethanolic extracts. It is concluded that agaritine is not responsible for the mutagenicity of mushroom extracts.

High radiocesium levels in granite outcrop vegetation and reductions through time.

Levels of fallout radiocesium in vegetation were examined on three granite outcrops and a forested area in the Georgia piedmont during 1976-1980. Mean values averaged 4.3 times higher in three species collected on an outcrop than in the same species collected on clay soils in a nearby pine-hardwood forest. Levels in reindeer moss (Cladonia spp.) were significantly (p less than 0.01) lower in species that formed deep, entangled tufts with abundant, slender branches. Cesium levels decreased by as much as 90% from the mid-1960s but were virtually unchanged in the late 1970s. Dry-weight levels in mushrooms reached 18,470 Bq kg-1 (499.2 pCi g-1). Radiation levels in outcrop vegetation were higher than values found anywhere in the piedmont and were comparable to levels reported in plants from the sterile sandy soils of the temperate region coastal plains. These data fit well with earlier reported values and correlate well with the availability of atmospheric fallout. Outcrops can be used as sensitive environmental barometers for some contaminants.

Incarnal. A new antibacterial sesquiterpene from Basidiomycetes.

A new sesquiterpene, incarnal, was isolated from culture fluid of Gloeostereum incarnatum (Japanese name: Nikawaurokotake). Incarnal inhibited the growth of gram-positive bacteria at 6.25-12.5 micrograms/ml. The structure of incarnal has been determined to be (1-hydroxy-2,10,10-trimethyl)-3-methylene- tricyclo[6.3.0.0(2.6)]undec-5,7-diene-4,9-dione by X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic methods.

Carcinogenic fungal hydrazines.

The carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic activity of 11 hydrazine analogues and diazonium ions are described. These chemicals are ingredients of 22 mushroom species. Of these, one is cultivated, while the remaining 21 are wild fungi. To date, many of these mushrooms are considered to be edible. The appropriate chemistry and biochemistry investigations of the mushroom chemicals are summarized briefly. Human consumption estimates also are provided in as much as possible.

Demonstration of monophenoloxidase activity of tyrosinase after electrophoresis.

The improved method presented here for localizing monophenoloxidase activity of tyrosinase (E.C. 1.14.18.1) after electrophoresis is based on the transfer of electrons from the monophenolic substrate, tyrosine methyl ester, to an artificial acceptor, phenazine methosulfate, and subsequent reduction of nitro blue tetrazolium into a violet formazan. This method is rapid, sensitive and versatile compared to the standard method. The electron transferred from monophenol can be accepted directly by nitro blue tetrazolium; although the background of the gel is clear, the sensitivity is decreased. The monophenol-PMS-NBT method is suitable for both plant and animal samples. This method can also be used for histochemical demonstration of monophenoloxidase activity.

Isolation and identification of actin from the phytopathogenic filamentous fungus uromyces appendiculatus.

Crude protein extracts of Uromyces appendiculatus contain a polypeptide that resembles actin in several ways. This protein eluates from DEAE-cellulose with concentrations of KCl known to release actin of other species from the cation. The polypeptide is recognized by polyclonal antibodies directed to sodium dodecyl sulfate-denatured actin of chicken gizzard as well as by a monoclonal antibody also made to gizzard actin from chicken, but not by antibodies made against rabbit skeletal muscle actin. Western blot analysis after electrophoresis of the protein on polyacrylamide revealed that the protein has an electrophoretic mobility very similar to that of rabbit skeletal muscle actin. We were unable either to isolate actin by affinity chromatography using immobilized DNase-I, or to identify bean rust actin using DNase-I inhibition assays. Nevertheless, large quantities of the protein sedimented by high speed centrifugation. The sedimented protein resisted attempts to solubilize it under conditions normally used to depolymerize actin filaments. Both of the latter findings indicate unusual features of bean rust actin. Immunocytochemical studies of actin localization in germlings of the fungus using two chicken gizzard actin antibodies revealed actin-containing sites which were similar to those previously observed with fluorescently tagged phallotoxin derivatives.

Strobilurin D and strobilurin F: two new cytostatic and antifungal (E)-beta-methoxyacrylate antibiotics from Cyphellopsis anomala (1).

Strobilurin D and strobilurin F, two new cytostatic and antifungal antibiotics of the (E)-beta-methoxyacrylate class, have been isolated from mycelial cultures of the basidiomycete Cyphellopsis anomala (Pers. ex Fr.) Sing. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The antibiotics inhibit the growth of human and animal cells and a wide variety of fungi. Like strobilurins A and B, the new metabolites are potent inhibitors of respiration.

A survey of the occurrence of agaritine in U.K. cultivated mushrooms and processed mushroom products.

The naturally occurring compound agaritine (beta-N-[gamma-L(+)glutamyl]-4-hydroxy-methylphenyl-hydrazine) has been determined in fresh, dried and processed mushrooms. A method was developed involving extraction of the toxin into methanol, clean-up where appropriate (for processed products) by high-performance size exclusion liquid chromatography and determination by reverse-phase HPLC with electrochemical detection. Diode array UV monitoring was used for confirmation. The method had a recovery of 90-98%, a relative standard deviation of 3-5% and a limit of detection of agaritine of 5 mg/kg on a dry-weight basis. Fresh cultivated mushrooms showed agaritine levels of 100-250 mg/kg and 80-190 mg/kg for two different commercial strains. There were slight differences in levels of agaritine between mushrooms of different sizes, and between those of the same size but harvested at different times (different breaks). Retail processed mushrooms products had low agaritine levels in the range 6-33 mg/kg, with the exception of one dried sliced mushroom product found to contain 6520 mg/kg.

Fungi: a major source of radiocesium contamination of grazing ruminants in Norway.

Transfer of radiocesium from vegetation to milk was studied in dairy goats grazing heavily contaminated mountain pasture in southern Norway in the years following the Chernobyl accident. Radiocesium activity in milk and green vegetation remained stable throughout 1986 and 1987. In 1988, a sudden three- to fivefold increase in milk radioactivity occurred during the second half of the summer. Whole-body content of radioactivity in sheep and reindeer also increased rapidly. This coincided with an abundant growth of fungal fruit bodies with radiocesium levels up to 100 times higher than green vegetation. Fungal radiocesium was found to be highly available in a digestibility study with goats. Milk radioactivity levels in the field could be accounted for by consumption of as little as 20-100 g d-1 of fungal dry matter (DM). The importance of fungal fruit bodies in transferring radiocesium to ruminants was further substantiated by comparing meat activities in grazing ruminants in 1988 and 1989. Fungal fruit bodies were present in minor quantities in 1989, and radioactivity levels in sheep and reindeer in August-September were only 28-35% of those in 1988. This ability of fungi to mobilize radiocesium from natural soils and transfer the isotopes into the human food chain greatly enhances the vulnerability of food production in natural ecosystems to radiocesium pollution.

Metabolism of illudin S, a toxic principle of Lampteromyces japonicus, by rat liver. I. Isolation and identification of cyclopropane ring-cleavage metabolites.

1. Illudin S, a toxic principle of the basidiomycete Lampteromyces japonicus, was incubated with rat liver 9000 g supernatant and its metabolites studied. 2. Two metabolites, M1 and M2, were isolated and identified as cyclopropane ring-cleavage compounds by n.m.r., i.r. and mass spectral analyses. Moreover, M2 contained a chlorine atom. 3. On the basis of detailed analyses of the 2D n.m.r. spectra and differential nuclear Overhauser effect experiments, the previous assignments of the cyclopropane carbons of illudin S were revised.

Isolation and characterization of a lectin from Grifola frondosa fruiting bodies.

An N-acetylgalactosamine-specific lectin (GFL) was isolated from Grifola frondosa fruiting bodies by affinity chromatographies on acid-treated Sepharose CL-4B and then GalNAc-Toyopearl. The isolated lectin agglutinated all types of erythrocytes equally. Molecular masses estimated by gel filtration under various buffers and matrices varied from 30 to 52 kDa. On the other hand, SDS-PAGE in the presence or absence of 2-mercaptoethanol showed three major bands of 33, 66 and 100 kDa and a faint band of 65 kDa. This lectin exhibited GalNAc-specificity. The protein was a glycoprotein containing 3.3% total sugar, and the amino acid analysis revealed a high content of acidic and hydroxy amino acids and a low content of methionine and histidine. GFL was cytotoxic against HeLa cells. The toxicity did not appear after preincubating the lectin with the haptenic sugar N-acetylgalactosamine.

[Radioactivity levels in mushrooms collected in the area of Karlsruhe during 1987 and 1988]. / Radioaktivitätsgehalte von 1987 und 1988 im Raum Karlsruhe gesammelten Pilzen.

Radioactive contamination of wild-growing mushrooms collected in the Northern Black Forest and neighbouring Rhine Valley area has been monitored since the Chernobyl reactor accident. Cs-134, CS-137, Ag-100m and the natural nuclide K-40 were determined by gamma-spectrometry. Pooled data from all species and all locations showed a decrease in the radio-caesium levels from 1986 to 1988, both in mean values and maximum values. Samples of the same species collected at the same location exhibited large differences, although mixed samples rather than individual mushrooms were measured. Accumulation of caesium was observed particularly in Laccaria amethystina, Xerocomus badius, Xerocomus chrysenteron, Cantharellus tubaeformis, Laccaria laccata, and Russula ochroleuca, with maximum values of 3600 (1986), 2000 (1987), and 1200 (1988) Bq/kg of radiocaesium. A large number of species, among them Calocybe gambosa and Coprinus comatus, showed very small accumulations or no caesium. An accumulation of silver was found in Macrolepiota rhacodes and Agaricus arvensis, which contained a maximum of 11 Bq/kg Ag-110m.

Antibiotics from basidiomycetes. XXXII. Strobilurin E: a new cytostatic and antifungal (E)-beta-methoxyacrylate antibiotic from Crepidotus fulvotomentosus Peck.

Strobilurin E is a novel antibiotic of the (E)-beta-methoxyacrylate (MOA) class produced by mycelial cultures of the agaric Crepidotus fulvotomentosus. In addition to an inhibition of fungal respiration, a feature of all MOA-antibiotics, the compound exhibits very high cytostatic activities which are accompanied by reversible morphological alterations of the cells.

Purification and some properties of a hemolysin from the poisonous mushroom Rhodophyllus rhodopolius.

A hemolytic protein which causes diarrhea and death to mice was purified from the fruit bodies of a poisonous mushroom species Rhodophyllus rhodopolius (Fries) by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration on Sephadex G-200, and DEAE-Sephadex A-25 column chromatography. The mol. wt of the purified hemolysin was estimated to be 40,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis. The hemolytic activity of the purified hemolysin was destroyed by heating at 60 degrees C for 10 min, and partially reduced by pepsin, papain and 2-mercaptoethanol. Cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine did not inhibit the activity. The hemolysin was unstable below pH 7.0 but stable at pH 8.0. The optimal pH for hemolysis was 6.0. Hemolysis did not occur below 4 degrees C even though the hemolysin bound to the erythrocyte. Mouse, chicken, rat, horse and human erythrocytes were sensitive in this order, but sheep and cow erythrocytes were not lysed by the toxin.