Changes in the contents of proximate composition, minerals, low molecular weight carbohydrates, organic acids and free amino acids in the fruit-body formation stage of Hanabiratake mushroom [Sparassis crispa (Wulf.: Fr.)] were investigated. The results are as follows: (1) Moisture content was almost similar during fruit-body formation. Crude protein, crude fat and crude ash decreased as growing, but carbohydrate increased. (2) Contents of K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn and P were determined. The K content was the highest, and then P, Mg, Ca and Na were contained in larger amount than other elements. (3) In the mushroom, trehalose, mannitol, glucose, fructose and arabitol were identified, and trehalose and mannitol were found to be significant among them. The contents of each element increased as the mushrooms grew. (4) Ten kinds of organic acids were identified. Malic, pyroglutamic, citric, fumaric and succinic acid were found to be significant among them. The contents of each element increased as the mushrooms grew. (5) Twenty nine kinds of free amino acids were identified. The glutamic acid content was the highest, and then asparagine, asparatic acid, tyrosine, arginine, alanine and serine were found to be significant among them. The contents of element decreased as the mushrooms grew.

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The different δ^<15>N and δ^<13>C values of corncob and wheat bran used as medium were reflected on those values of products i.e. shiitake mushroom. The different δ^<15>N valves of corncob cultivated using different fertilizers (inorganic and organic) were reflected on the values of δ^<15>N of products. The different δ^<13>C values of corncob (C_4 plant) and wheat bran (C_3 plant) were reflected on the values of δ^<13>C of products. These 5 values were effective to identify what kinds of media were used for mushroom production.

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Corn fiber (CNF) is discharged as a by-product of the production of cornstarch in factories. We studied the effect of CNF-HWSF (hot-water soluble fraction from CNF) on the fruit-body (Fb) formation of some edible mushrooms. When Lentinula edodes was cultured with the addition of CNF-HWSF to the medium, the ratio of fruiting dishes increased to 9/10 from 4/10 (fruiting dishes/culture dishes) and the time required for mature Fb formation was shortened to 56 days from 70 days. Furthermore, the overall yield of Fb increased to 2.0 times compared to the control. These promotive effects were shown in Flammulina velutipes and Pleurotus ostreatus. To elucidate the promoting mechanisms, the production of carbohydrase activities during development of Fb were examined using L. edodes in glucose peptone yeast extract liquid medium. With the addition of CNF-HWSF in the medium, extracellular amylase activity increased to about 3.5 times that of the control (without addition of CNF-HWSF). On the other hand, the maximum levels of carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) and Xylanase activities shifted to the 10th-20th day after inoculation from the 30th day by the addition of CNF-HWSF.

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A cause of the insular area in southwest Japan, the Tottori, Okayama, and Hiroshima Prefectures, about wild mushroom food custom was analyzed by using a correlation model previously proposed in relation with the natural vegetation of the Chugoku District. In a scatter diagram representing the counts of two factors, number of species used and counts by subtracting the number of species that are dried from those that are salted for preservation, two clusters were separately depicted by areas located in evergreen broad-leaved forest zone and areas in summergreen broad-leaved forest zone. There were significant differences between the two areas both in the counts of number of species used and preservation processing methods. This result indicated that the cause of the insular area in southwest Japan would be attributable to similar food custom as that of northeast Japan which exhibited by some areas in summergreen forest zone distributing in the Chugoku Mts. Additionally, it should be noted that the bordering of the two typical food customs appearing in the northeastern and the southwestern regions of Japan corresponds to local vegetation of a given area rather than its location, insofar as local wild mushroomuse.

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