Abstract:

The contents of nutrients and amino acids in the fruit bodies of Agaricus brunnescens Peck and Agaricus

bisporus were measured. Further we evaluated the nutritional values of the two mushrooms based on nutritional evaluation

of proteins. The results showed that Agaricus brunnescens Peck cultivated with rice straw contained high contents of crude

fiber and free amino acids (12.46% and 12.11%, respectively), and the crude protein content was as high as 45.03% when

cultivated with corn cobs. Crude protein, ash and crude fiber contents of Agaricus brunnescens Peck were higher than those

of Agaricus bisporus under the same cultivation condition, whereas total sugar, free amino acids and soluble proteins were

less abundant in Agaricus brunnescens Peck than in Agaricus bisporus. Agaricus brunnescens Peck cultivated with either of

the two materials contained a wide variety of amino acids with higher contents of total amino acids and essential amino acids

obtained with corn cob cultivation. Moreover, the amino acid composition from corn cob cultivation was close to the WHO/

FAO recommended ideal pattern, with methionine and cystine being the first limiting amino acids and leucine being the

second limiting amino acid. Using each cultivation material, Agaricus brunnescens Peck had higher amino acid score (AAS),

chemical score (CS) and nutritional index (NI) than Agaricus bisporus, and the differences were particularly significant by

rice straw cultivation. These results suggest that the nutritional value of Agaricus brunnescens Peck growing on corn cob is

superior to that on rice straw.

Key words: Agaricus brunnescens Peck, rice straw, corn cob, nutritional components