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High concentrations of mannitol in the shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodes
1Microbiology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Great Britain.
Abstract:
A quantitative analysis of mannitol, using gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), was carried out in the various tissues of Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler in comparison with Agaricus bisporus (Lge) Imb. and Coprinus cinereus (Schaeff.: Fr.) S. F. Gray. Mycelia of L. edodes had a low level of mannitol (ca 1% on a dry wt basis) compared with the fruit body stipe and pileus (20-30%). The highest level of mannitol was observed in the pileus of A. bisporus (close to 50%). These observations of similar levels of accumulation of mannitol suggest that glucose catabolism in L. edodes and A. bisporus are similar. No mannitol was detectable in the pileus of C. cinereus.