Simple staining detects ultrastructural and biochemical differentiation of vegetative hyphae and fruit body initials in colonies of Pleurotus pulmonarius.

Aims: To know the ultrastructural and biochemical differences of vegetative hyphae and fruit body initials in colonies of Pleurotus pulmonarius.

Methods And Results: Feulgen reagent was used to detects differentiation of hyphae. The intracellular laccases, proteases and beta-1,3-glucanases activity, content of cytoplasmic protein, glycogen and glucans in the cell wall were evaluated in hyphae of fruit body initials and in vegetative hyphae.

Modern aspects of mushroom culture technology.

The production and culture of new species of mushrooms is increasing. The breeding of new strains has significantly improved, allowing the use of strains with high yield and resistance to diseases, increasing productivity and diminishing the use of chemicals for pest control. The improvement and development of modern technologies, such as computerized control, automated mushroom harvesting, preparation of compost, production of mushrooms in a non-composted substrate, and new methods of substrate sterilization and spawn preparation, will increase the productivity of mushroom culture.