Nutritional value of Termitomyces mycelial protein and growth of mycelium on natural substrates

• Published in: Mycological research Vol. 96; no. 5; pp. 350 - 354
• Main Authors: Botha, W.J., Eicker, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1992; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant, fungal and microbial proteins, edible seaweeds and food yeasts; Biological and medical sciences; culture techniques; food composition; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; growth; mushrooms; mycelium; nutritive value; plant proteins; Termitomyces; termitomyces reticulatris; termitomyces sagittaeformis; termitomyces umkowaani; South Africa; Africa; Fungi; Substrate; Cultural practice; Growth; Aminoacid; Nutritive value; Plant protein; Basidiomycetes; Mycelium; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0953-7562; 1469-8102
• DOI: 10.1016/S0953-7562(09)80949-0

Amino acid composition of the mycelial protein of three Termitomyces species from South Africa, namely T. umkowaani, T. sagittaeformis and T. reticulatus, was determined by means of hplc and compared with the mycelial protein of A. bisporus (C4 variety) and a standard reference protein. All four species contained ten essential and eight non-essential amino acids. The highest levels of essential amino acids were found in T. sagittaeformis. These levels exceeded the respective amounts contained by A. bisporus and the reference protein. Nutritional parameters of T. sagittaeformis mycelial protein were higher than those of the other mushrooms, but were slightly lower for T. umkowaani and substantially lower for T. reticulatus. Only four essential amino acids were limiting in T. umkowaani mycelial protein, but sulphur-containing amino acids were present in high quantities. The essential amino acid composition of T. umkowaani and T. sagittaeformis mycelial protein would exceed the nutritional requirements of a normal adult, but T. reticulatus protein would only partly suffice, since four essential amino acids were severely limiting. It was possible to cultivate mycelium of T. umkowaani on a natural substrate which consisted of a mixture of grain sorghum, wheat, wheat bran and sawdust.