John Miller
Mushrooms are the fruit bodies of fungi, which are neither plants nor animals but rather a unique kingdom of organisms. Fungi produce mushrooms as a means of reproduction, as mushrooms contain spores that help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface. Mushrooms have been used for a variety of purposes by humans, including as food, medicine, dyes, and in the fermentation process for alcoholic beverages.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of Fungi | Any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as mushrooms. |
| Fungi Kingdom | Animalia, Plantae, Protista or Protozoa, and Chromista. |
| Fungi Characteristics | Fungi are heterotrophs, they acquire food by absorbing dissolved molecules and secreting digestive enzymes into their environment. They do not photosynthesize. |
| Mushroom Definition | The fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. |
| Mushroom Characteristics | Mushrooms have a short lifespan, a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. |
| Mushroom Uses | Mushrooms are used in folk medicine, textile dyes, fire starters, and food preparation. |
| Mushroom Cultivation | Mushrooms can be cultivated outdoors in forests or similar environments with good humidity and airflow, or indoors with controlled environments. |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are a subset of fungi, but not all fungi are mushrooms
Mushrooms are the fruit bodies of members of the order Agaricales, whose type genus is Agaricus and type species is the field mushroom, Agaricus campestris. In modern molecularly defined classifications, not all members of the order Agaricales produce mushroom fruit bodies, and many other gilled fungi, collectively called mushrooms, occur in other orders of the class Agaricomycetes.
Mushrooms are fungi with a stem (called a stipe) and a cap (pileus). The gills under the cap are called lamellae (singular: lamella) and they produce microscopic spores, called basidiospores, which help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface. The gills produce a fine rain of powder from under the caps as a result of spore formation.
Mushroom-forming fungi include an estimated 1.5 to 5 million species, of which about 20,000 species of fruiting mushrooms have been identified. Only 200 species have been cultivated, with about 20 reaching large-scale cultivation. Mushrooms can be produced in locations with minimal infrastructure and capital, but considerations and controls for temperature, humidity, light, and airflow need to be made.
Certain mushrooms are used as supposed therapeutics in folk medicine practices, such as traditional Chinese medicine. They can also be used for dyeing wool and other natural fibers, as well as for starting fires (known as tinder fungi).
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Fungi produce mushrooms for reproduction
Mushrooms are a subset of the fungal kingdom, with an estimated 1.5 to 5 million species of mushroom-forming fungi. About 20,000 species of fruiting mushrooms have been identified, and of those, only 200 species have been cultivated, with 20 reaching large-scale cultivation. The mushroom is just one piece of the larger fungal life cycle. The main body of the organism is called mycelium, which grows in multiple directions as it seeks food to digest. Mycelium is what cultivators need to grow before fruiting mushrooms.
Mushrooms can be produced in a variety of locations, from forests to abandoned barns and warehouses. They can be challenging to study in the field due to their short lifespans.
Mushrooms have been used for various purposes throughout history, including therapeutic uses in traditional Chinese medicine, food preparation, and the production of alcoholic beverages through yeast fermentation.
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Mushrooms can be used for food, medicine, and textiles
Mushrooms are a type of fungus, and not all fungi produce mushrooms. Mushroom cultivation has a long history, with over twenty species commercially cultivated and sold in at least 60 countries. They are a good source of food and have medicinal properties.
Food
When consuming mushrooms, it is important to ensure they are safe to eat. Wild mushrooms must be correctly identified before consumption as some species are deadly poisonous. Some mushrooms can cause allergic reactions in certain individuals, and old or improperly stored mushrooms can cause food poisoning. Mushrooms can absorb chemicals from their surroundings, so they may contain pollutants and heavy metals such as arsenic and iron, which can be harmful.
However, when consumed safely, mushrooms have nutritional benefits. The commonly eaten white mushroom (*Agaricus bisporus*) is 92% water, 3% carbohydrates, 3% protein, and 0.3% fat. It also contains high levels of riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid, as well as phosphorus. Cooking mushrooms by boiling reduces their water content by only 1% but increases the content of dietary minerals.
Medicine
Medicinal mushrooms have been used to treat infections for hundreds of years, especially in Asia. In Japan and China, mushrooms have long been incorporated into standard cancer treatments, either alone or in combination with radiation or chemotherapy. Turkey tail mushrooms (*Trametes versicolor* or *Coriolus versicolor*), for example, are believed to strengthen the immune system and have been used to treat lung diseases and cancer. Polysaccharide K (PSK), a compound found in turkey tail mushrooms, has been used as adjuvant therapy in cancer patients, helping to repair immune cell damage caused by chemotherapy.
Textiles
Mushrooms also have applications in the textile industry with the development of mycelium fabric. Mycelium is the network of threads of a fungus, also known as the root of the mushroom. Mycelium fabric is environmentally friendly, requiring very little water and no toxic chemicals or fertilizers during production. It is naturally antimicrobial, flexible, strong, and can be dyed any colour. This fabric has excellent insulating and moisture-absorbing properties, and it is non-toxic, waterproof, and fire-resistant.
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Mushrooms can be cultivated indoors or outdoors
Mushrooms are a type of fungus, but not all fungi are mushrooms. Fungi exist in their own kingdom, separate from plants and animals. They are characterised by their chitin cell walls and their ability to absorb food through dissolved molecules in their environment.
Mushrooms can be cultivated both indoors and outdoors. Outdoor mushroom cultivation is generally simpler and requires less upfront cost and upkeep. However, growing mushrooms outdoors results in smaller yields and is subject to seasonal constraints.
Indoor mushroom cultivation, on the other hand, offers numerous advantages. Firstly, it allows for year-round growing, breaking free from seasonal constraints. Secondly, it provides precise control over environmental factors, leading to consistent yields and higher-quality mushrooms. Thirdly, it optimises space, enabling cultivation in small areas such as closets, kitchens, and apartments. Fourthly, it is more accessible and convenient, with beginner-friendly methods such as fruiting blocks and all-in-one kits. Fifthly, mushrooms grown indoors produce faster and increased yields per unit of substrate. Lastly, indoor cultivation offers more species options, as control over environmental conditions enables the cultivation of a broader array of edible and medicinal mushrooms.
However, growing mushrooms indoors requires the creation of a contained growing environment with specific temperature, humidity, light, and airflow conditions. This can be challenging, as the humidity levels needed to grow mushrooms may not be ideal for human living spaces, and spores must be contained to prevent mycelium growth in unwanted areas.
Overall, both indoor and outdoor mushroom cultivation have their advantages and disadvantages, and the right choice depends on the specific circumstances and goals of the grower.
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Mushrooms are neither plants nor animals
Mushrooms are the fruit bodies of fungi, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. They are neither plants nor animals. Fungi are a separate kingdom of organisms, distinct from plants, animals, bacteria, and some protists. Fungi are more closely related to animals than they are to plants. Fungi, like animals, are heterotrophs, meaning they acquire their food by absorbing dissolved molecules and cannot produce their own energy through photosynthesis.
Mushrooms are characterised by their stem (stipe) and cap (pileus), with gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. The gills produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface. The spores are formed on a layer called the hymenial layer, which covers the surface of the gills. In nongilled mushrooms, the hymenium lines the inner surfaces of the tubes of boletes and polypores.
Mushrooms can be used for a variety of purposes, including therapeutic effects in traditional medicine practices, food preparation, and dyeing wool and other natural fibres. Mushroom farming and gathering are large industries in many countries, and the study of the historical uses and sociological impact of fungi is known as ethnomycology.
The process of cultivating mushrooms involves several stages, including strain selection, substrate preparation, inoculation, incubation, initiation, fruiting, and harvest. Mushrooms can be grown both indoors and outdoors, with outdoor cultivation being ideal as it provides the necessary conditions for fruiting without the need for climate control.
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Frequently asked questions
Fungi are a group of eukaryotic organisms that include microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as mushrooms. They are neither plants nor animals and exist in their own kingdom.
Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of certain fungi that can be seen by the naked eye and picked by hand. They typically have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) underneath the cap.
Fungi produce mushrooms as a means of reproduction and dispersal. The gills of the mushroom produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface.
Agaricus bisporus, also known as the cultivated white button mushroom, is the standard for the name "mushroom." Other examples include Agaricus subrufescens, Ganoderma lucidum, and Ophiocordyceps sinensis, which have been used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Mushrooms can grow in a variety of environments, including forests or any shady, humid environment with good airflow. They can also be grown indoors with controlled temperature, humidity, light, and airflow.
