In sawdust-based cultivation of edible mushrooms, it was determined that the types and composition ratios of substrates and nutrients in the sawdust-based medium have effects on the yield and quality of fruiting bodies. In particular, it was shown that industrial waste and underutilized biomass resources can be utilized as medium materials in sawdust-based cultivation. By mixing sawdust and soybean waste, which is discarded in large quantities in the manufacturing of processed soybean foods, with rice bran or wheat bran, the yield of fruiting bodies increased compared to rice bran or wheat bran alone. It is presumed that the complementary action of the nutritional environment in the sawdust-based medium was a factor. A similar attempt to cultivate Hiratake (Pleurotus ostreatus) on sawdust-based bed medium containing bean paste waste nutrient, produced in the manufacturing of processed azuki bean products, was not successful. However, the fruiting body yield increased by replacing the soft wood sawdust as the substrate of the medium with the azuki bean paste waste. In the cultivation of Enokitake (Flammulina velutipes), the content of the free amino acids alanine and glycine increased, which affected the components of fruiting bodies, allowing the cultivation of mushrooms with strong sweetness. This indicated that azuki bean paste waste is useful as a substrate. Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) is a mushroom that can be grown on a wide selection of substrates in sawdust-based cultivation. Thus, I examined the applicability of the cultivation waste of several edible mushrooms for the cultivation of Yamabushitake. The cultivation waste of Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), Maitake (Grifola frondosa), Nameko (Pholiota microspora), and Bunashimeji (Hypsizygus marmoreus) could be used in place of beech sawdust. The fruiting body yields when cultivated with the above substrates were higher than that with beech sawdust. It was also found that the increase in yield was further promoted by composting the culture waste. It was found that the contents of free glucose, low-molecular a-glucan, and low-molecular b-glucan were increased in the cultivation medium containing the cultivation waste. Therefore, I investigated the effect of adding a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme instead of the cultivation waste at the time of medium preparation on fruiting body yield in cultivated Yamabushitake. Based on these results, a new cultivation method using a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme was described. As another example of an underutilized biomass, abandoned bamboo groves have become a social problem. Thus, to aid in the development of novel applications, I examined the use of bamboo as a material in the sawdust-based cultivation of Hiratake and showed that the yield on fresh bamboo sawdust was equal to or greater than that on hardwood sawdust. It was observed that the fruiting body yield was increased by composting bamboo sawdust, indicating that bamboo sawdust is applicable as a substrate for Hiratake sawdust-based cultivation.

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Polypore fungi are the main group of wood-decaying basidiomycetes that have significant roles in biomass recycling in woodland ecosystems. These fungi are under focus for their potential use as food and medicine, and for biotechnological applications. However, the species diversity and phylogenetic positions of Asian polypores have not been fully revealed. This article reviews the taxonomic studies on Asian polypores in Auriculariales and Polyporales of Basidiomycota by the author. As a result of taxonomic studies of Asian polypores in Auriculariales, it was revealed that Elmerina was a polyphyletic, and it was concluded that Aporpium and Protodaedalea should be retained as genera distinct from Elmerina. Moreover, a new species of Aporpium and two new combinations of Aporpium and Protodaedalea were proposed. According to the results of taxonomic studies on polypores in Polyporales, Melanoderma boninense was described as a new species from Bonin Islands, Japan, and the morphological examination of authentic specimens of other Melanoderma species revealed that the genus is variable in terms of the shape and size of cystidioles. A new species, Polyporus thailandensis was described from Thailand, and P. ciliatus was newly reported from Japan based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence. Species of Aporpium, Protodaedalea and Melanoderma in Japan are reviewed and listed in this article.

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Is it possible to train Mushroom Meisters. with comprehensive professional qualifications regarding mushrooms as a way to promote the mushroom industry and mushroom consumption? This paper looks back on the 13 years of practical experience stemming from this proposition, and clarifies its characteristics and future prospects. Why do we need Mushroom Meisters? It is essential to improve the balance between the increase in domestic edible mushroom production and the demand, and to support the spread of mushroom consumption that is commensurate with the amount of supply. In addition, the number of people suffering from lifestyle-related diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, which pose serious challenges, is increasing, and as a consequence, people are faced with increasing medical bills. Mycophagists believe that mushrooms can help resolve these problems. Over the past 13 years, a total of 953 qualified people have been certified nationwide, including 716 basic Mushroom Meisters. They play a major role in popularizing mushroom consumption in daily diets. This is because there are Mushroom Meisters in various fields, such as production, eating and drinking, processing, logistics, research, entertainment (e.g., celebrities and comedians), and civil servants. To follow the activities of Mushroom Meisters, there is a comprehensive magazine on mushrooms called “Quarterly Kinoko”, and the mycophagist issue of the magazine also plays a role in mushroom dissemination activities. In the future, I hope that Mushroom Meisters nationwide will demonstrate their qualified social significance and take the lead in the well-balanced spread of mushroom production and consumption. It is also hoped that society will recognize this qualification and increase the number of qualified personnel.

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A protease was partially purified from the culture filtrate of a plant worm, Paecilomyces farinosus. The activity of the protease was suppressed by serine protease inhibitors, such as phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, soybean trypsin inhibitor, aprotinin, and leupeptin. Its molecular mass was estimated to be 33 kDa by SDS-PAGE, and its optimal pH and temperature were pH 8.0 and 45°C, respectively. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the protease was IVGGDDAEIAEYPY-. The amino acid sequence shares sequence homology with the trypsin-like serine endopeptidase belonging to the peptidase S1 family from Aspergillus nidulans and Drosophila erecta. From these results, it was considered that the enzyme from P. farinosus is a trypsin-like serine endopeptidase.

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