The medicinal Agaricus mushroom cultivated in Brazil: biology, cultivation and non-medicinal valorisation

Abstract

Sun mushroom is a cultivated mushroom extensively studied for its medicinal properties for several years and literature abounds on the topic. Besides, agronomical aspects were investigated in Brazil, the country the mushroom comes from, and some studies focus on the biology of the fungus. This review aimed to present an overview of the non-medicinal knowledge on the mushroom. Areas of commercial production and marketing trends are presented. Its specific fragrance, taste, nutritional value and potential use of extracts as food additives are compared to those of the most cultivated fungi and laboratory models. The interest of the mushroom for lignocellulosic enzyme production and source of biomolecules for the control of plant pathogens are shown. Investigation of genetic variability among cultivars is reported. Growing and storage of mycelium, as well as cultivation conditions (substrate and casing generally based on local products; indoor and outdoor cultivation; diseases and disorders) are described and compared to knowledge on Agaricus bisporus.

Spore behaviors reveal a category of mating-competent infertile heterokaryons in the offspring of the medicinal fungus Agaricus subrufescens

“…Even though A. subrufescens and Agaricus bisporus, the button mushroom, belong to the distinctly different Agaricus sections Arvenses and Bivelares, respectively, both are secondary decomposers and can be cultivated on similar substrates (Largeteau et al 2011;Llarena-Hernández et al 2013). A. subrufescens is, to our knowledge, the Agaricus species having the broadest climatic and geographical range (Peterson et al 2000;Kerrigan 2005;Wisitrassameewong et al 2012a, b;Parra 2013;Gui et al 2014).…”

Characterization and cytotoxic activity of sulfated derivatives of polysaccharides from Agaricus brasiliensis

“…Since 2005, this binominal nomenclature has been considered incorrect and replaced by two botanical names: Agaricus subrufescens Peck or Agaricus brasiliensis Wasser, with the latter being adopted for the fungus cultivated in Brazil [2–5]. …”

Fructooligosaccharides in Allium Species: Chemistry and Nutrition

“…Agaricus blazei, or Agaricus brasiliensis, as it was recently reclassified, is another well-studied edible medicinal mushroom that originates from Brazil, where it is called Piedade mushroom, medicinal mushroom (cogumelo medicinal), sun mushroom (cogumelo do sol), or God's mushroom (cogumelo de Deus) (Largeteau et al 2011). It yields several antitumor polysaccharides contained in its fruiting body (Giavasis andBiliaderis 2006, Wasser 2002) such as a β-(1,6)/β-(1,3) glucan, an acidic β-(1,6)/α-(1,3) glucan, and an acidic β-(1,6)/α-(1,4) glucan.…”

“…This process is of course very slow as it takes from several weeks up to 8-10 months until the fungal mycelia become mature fruiting bodies (Chang 1993). It is also susceptible to contamination by other fungi or bacteria that cause mushroom rot, or to pathogenic parasites and mites (Largeteau et al 2011).…”