A study was undertaken to determine the effects of Enokitake {Flammulina velutipes) on the growth and intestinal micro flora of rats. Male Wistar rats (6 weeks of age; body weight 113 g) were fed either a control diet or an experimental diet containing 5 % Enokitake powder for 104 days. The following results were obtained: 1) The body weight of the Enokitake group had was increased significantly at 7 to 43 days and also at 63 days. From 70 days on, there was no difference between the Enokitake group and the control group. A significant decrease was observed in the growth ratio of the Enokitake group from 7 to 78 days. 2) There was a significant decrease in total feed intake for the Enokitake group from 7 to 78 days. Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were decreased significantly on days0 to 7, 0 to 14, 0 to 28 and 0 to 42 days. On days 0 to 7 and 0 to 14, energy efficiency ratio was decreased significantly. 3) The Enokitake group was significantly low with apparent nitrogen digestively, apparent nitrogen retention and also nitrogen balance at 7 to 14 days. The Enokitake group was significantly high with apparent nitrogen retention on days 28 to 35. 4) In the Enokitake group, the cecum weight per carcass weight (%) increased significantly, but retroperitoneal fat tissue weight, small intestine and colon per carcass weight (%) decreased significantly. The Enokitake group showed a tendency for the length of the small intestine to increase. 5) The fatty acid composition of the retroperineal fat tissues and linolenic acid was increased significantly, while palmtic acid decreased significantly. In the fatty acid composition of the liver, linolenic acid was significantly high. 6) There were no differences between the Enokitake group and the control group in content of the protein and the lipid included into the liver. 7) Total Lactobacillus spp. increased in the Cecum.

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The nutritional requirements for mycelial growth in Lyophyllum shimeji and L. fumosum were comparatively studied by using a liquid medium. The structure of vegetative mycelia in L. shimeji was morphologically different from that in L. fumosum, e. g., gelatinous, fine hyphae with thin cell wall in the former fungus, in contrast to rigid, thick hyphae with thick cell wall in the latter one. Glucose, trehalose, fructose and soluble starch were especially good carbon sources for mycelial growth in both species. Xylose and mannitol were poor carbon sources. Casamino acids, peptone, yeast extract, casitone and amino acids mixture were good nitrogen sources for the growth in L. shimeji. On the contrary, ammonium tartrate, ammonium chloride, ammonium nitrate and amino acids mixture were better nitrogen sources for mycelial growth than inorganic nitrogen sources in L. fumosum. Potassium nitrate did not support mycelial growth in both fungi. The most suitable C/N ratios in media for the growth of L. shimeji and L. fumosum were 40-90 and and 20-40, respectively.

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The utilization of bean curd refuse as a nutrient for the cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus was investigated by using sawdust substrates with bean curd refuse and rice bran mixed at different ratios. The cultivation on the sawdust substrates containing bean curd refuse at 40-80 % in nutrients were shortened the period by about 2 weeks and increased the yield of fruit bodies by 1.5-1.8 times compared with the substrate in which the rice bran as supplemented as a sole nutrient additive. The mixture of bean curd refuse and rice bran as nutrient additives into the sawdust substrate produced low C/N ratio. Bean curd refuse is, therefore, useful nutrient additive for the cultivation of P. ostreatus in combination with rice bran for preparing the substrate.

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Frequency of fruit body appearance of Phaeolus schweinitzii (Fr.) Pat. was observed on stumps of which 6 months after fell down of 17-, 24-, 31-, 38-, and 41-year-old Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi Carr.) plantation in the Hokkaido experiment station of Kyushu University Forests. The frequency of fruit body appearance was found to increase with tree ages. Fruit body appearance on the stumps in 41-year-old plantation was more prevalent in the site of lower slope positions compared with upper or middle slope positions.

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