John Miller
The mushroom's stalk and cap, commonly identified as a mushroom, are actually the fruiting body, or reproductive structure, of a larger fungal organism. The mycelium, a filamentous web, acts as the vegetative body of the fungus, facilitating its growth and resource acquisition. While the mycelium is akin to an apple tree, the mushroom is like the apple fruit. The mycelium is not a mushroom according to the FDA, and products made from it do not contain any real mushrooms. In contrast, fruiting bodies have been used by humans for thousands of years and have up to 15 times more active compounds than mycelium.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The cap and stem that most people identify as a mushroom is the fruiting body, or the reproductive structure of a larger fungal organism. |
| Composition | The mushroom fruiting body is composed of beta-glucans, triterpenes, and ergosterol. |
| Taste | Fruiting body extracts have an extremely bitter and earthy taste. |
| Cost | Fruiting body extracts are incredibly more expensive than mycelium. |
| Research | Fruiting bodies have been used by humans for 5,000+ years and have thousands of years of research to back them. |
| Active Compounds | Fruiting bodies may have 15 times more active compounds than mycelium. |
| Nutritional Value | Fruiting bodies have been found to have higher concentrations of certain minerals, such as Fe, Zn, and Se, compared to mycelium. |
| Environmental Factors | Fruiting bodies are grown on wood, while mycelium is grown on grain. |
| Largest Known Fruiting Body | A specimen of Phellinus ellipsoideus found in China measures up to 10.85 meters in length and weighs between 450 and 760 kilograms. |
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What You'll Learn
The mushroom cap and stem are the fruiting body
The mycelium can be likened to an apple tree, while the mushroom is akin to an apple. The mushroom is the structure that releases spores, some of which will find a suitable growing medium, germinate, and produce a tiny strand of tissue called a hypha. The hypha grows through its environment in a dendritic pattern, seeking water and nutrients. This branching network is the mycelium.
The largest known fruiting body is a specimen of Phellinus ellipsoideus found on Hainan Island in China. It measures up to 10.85 metres (35+1⁄2 feet) in length and is estimated to weigh between 450 and 760 kilograms (990 and 1,680 pounds).
Fruiting bodies have been used by humans for 5,000+ years, and every culture has always used the fruiting body exclusively, not the mycelium. Existing research shows that fruiting bodies may have 15 times more active compounds than mycelium, including beta-glucans, triterpenes, and ergosterol, which provide benefits such as focus, energy, immune support, and stress support. However, fruiting body extracts are extremely bitter and earthy in taste, while mycelium grown on grain tastes like sweet rice, making it much easier to formulate with.
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Mycelium is the vegetative body of the fungus
The mushroom cap and stem that most people identify as a mushroom is the fruiting body, or reproductive structure, of a larger fungal organism. The majority of the fungus exists underground, in the wood, soil, or other materials from which the mushroom grows. This filamentous web, the mycelium, is the vegetative body of the fungus, accessing resources and growing through its environment.
Mycelium is like the roots of a plant, and it is through this network of mycelial fibres that the fruiting body is supported and produced. The mycelium is the engine of the fungus, allowing it to grow and spread, and it is through this structure that the fungus accesses water and nutrients. This network of mycelium is like an apple tree, with the mushroom being the apple.
Mycelium has been used in functional mushroom products, but this is a new development. Traditional and cultural uses of mushrooms have always been of the fruiting body. Research has shown that fruiting bodies may have up to 15 times more active compounds than mycelium. These active ingredients, such as beta-glucans, triterpenes, and ergosterol, are the compounds that provide benefits to the human body, such as focus, energy, immune support, and stress relief.
While mycelium is a cheaper alternative, it is argued that it is not a "mushroom" according to the Food and Drug Administration. Mycelium is also easier to formulate with and has a less bitter taste. However, it is important to note that mycelium products are not exposed to any environmental factors, as they are grown in controlled settings.
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Fruiting bodies are used in traditional medicine
Mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The stalk and cap of a mushroom, known as the fruiting body, comprise the organism's reproductive structure. The largest known fruiting body is a specimen of Phellinus ellipsoideus found on Hainan Island, China, measuring up to 10.85 meters in length and weighing between 450 and 760 kilograms.
Fruiting bodies have been favoured by experts due to their higher concentrations of bioactive compounds such as beta-glucans and triterpenes. These compounds have been found to bolster the immune system, promote longevity, and support overall health. For example, Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) has been used to support cell, immune, metabolic, and liver function, as well as gut health and inflammatory response. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) has similar effects, along with promoting longevity and supporting overall health.
Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) and Maitake (Grifola frondosa) are also known to bolster the immune system, while Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris) boosts energy and virility. Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) has the potential to relieve cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's, and dementia, as well as assist in nervous system trauma recovery. Many of these medicinal mushrooms are also helpful in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and cancer, and can increase protection against viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections.
While fruiting bodies have a long history of human use, it is important to note that functional mushrooms can be mistaken for other species, including poisonous varieties, in the wild. As such, it is recommended to consult a doctor or healthcare practitioner before consuming mushroom supplements, especially if one has a pre-existing condition, is taking medication, or has a history of allergic reactions.
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Mycelium is cheaper to produce
The mushroom marketplace is dominated by products that don't contain any real mushrooms. Instead, they are made of mycelium, which is essentially the "root system" of the mushroom. Mycelium is significantly cheaper to produce than the fruiting body of a mushroom.
Mycelium on grains costs about 10 times less than organic fruiting body extracts. Mycelium is also significantly easier to formulate with. It is much easier to make delicious drinks with mycelium, as fruiting body extracts are extremely bitter and earthy.
While fruiting body research has thousands of years of human use to back it, mycelium is a new field with only 20-30 years of research. Humans have only been able to grow the mycelium from an isolated species for about 100 years.
Fruiting bodies may have 15 times more active compounds than mycelium. However, mycelium proponents argue that while there are fewer active compounds in the mycelium, in nature, it has more exposure to "intruders" and therefore has built more immune factors.
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Fruiting bodies have more active compounds
Mushrooms are widely appreciated for their appealing flavours, low-calorie count, and high content of presumably health-protecting metabolites. The stalk and cap that come to mind when you think about a mushroom are called the fruiting body. They comprise the organism's reproductive structure. Below the surface, however, is a web of mycelial fibres that support and produce the fruiting body. Each of these structures has its own function in a mushroom's life cycle and offers unique benefits.
The largest known fruiting body is a specimen of Phellinus ellipsoideus (formerly Fomitiporia ellipsoidea) found on Hainan Island, China. It measures up to 10.85 metres (35+1⁄2 feet) in length and is estimated to weigh between 450 and 760 kilograms (990 and 1,680 pounds). A wide variety of animals feed on epigeous and hypogeous fungi. Squirrels and chipmunks eat the greatest variety of fungi, but there are many other mammals that also forage on fungi, such as marsupials, mice, rats, voles, lemmings, deer, shrews, rabbits, and weasels.
The fruiting bodies of some mushrooms are a source of lovastatin, a cholesterol-lowering compound. A comparative study found the lowest concentration in the fruiting bodies of L. edodes (around 1 mg/100 g dry mass). However, the amount of lovastatin released from the extracts of the examined species into digestive juices was highest for the mycelium from in vitro cultures of L. edodes (0.51 mg/100 g dry mass).
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Frequently asked questions
The cap and stem that most people identify as a mushroom is the fruiting body, or the reproductive structure of a larger fungal organism.
The majority of the fungus exists underground, in the wood, soil, or other material the mushroom is growing from. This filamentous web, the mycelium, serves as the vegetative body of the fungus, accessing resources and growing through its environment.
Yes, research shows that fruiting bodies may have 15 times more active compounds than mycelium, including beta-glucans, triterpenes, and ergosterol, which provide benefits such as improved focus, energy, immune function, and stress support.
Fruiting body extracts are extremely bitter and earthy in taste, making them more difficult to formulate with and less suitable for creating delicious drinks. They are also more expensive and time-consuming to produce.
Yes, functional mushrooms have been used by humans for over 5,000 years in cultures across the world, including in Europe and China. While humans have only been able to grow the mycelium from an isolated species for about 100 years, fruiting bodies have been used in traditional herbal medicine, folklore, and cultural traditions for centuries.
