The Production of Mushroom Mycelium ( Agaricus campestris ) in Submerged Culture

Abstract

A. campestris was isolated from a white mushroom taken from a commercial bed. A good growth of mycelium was obtained on wort agar. The mycelial mat was broken up in a sterile Waring blendor, and a sterile culture medium was inoculated with the suspension, then transferred to the fermentor and incubated at 25 C until a heavy growth of hyphae was obtained. Good growth of mycelium was obtained on media containing asparagus-butt juice or press juice from pear waste as the main substrate. Addition of inorganic salts was essential in the pear juice. After harvesting, the mycelium was separated from the culture by centri-fuging. It was resuspended in water and recentrifuged. The samples were dried from the frozen state. Yields up to 60% by wt. of the sugar consumed were obtained. Growth from a small inoculum was rather slow as compared to that of yeast; however, once the maximum cell volume consistent with the composition of the medium is attained, 50-75% of the medium may be replaced with fresh sterile medium every 6-12 hrs. of operation. Successful operation was accomplished over 6 consecutive days. The compositions of commercial mushrooms and the mycelium from submerged fermentation were very similar.