Prediction of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) moisture content using hyperspectral imaging

Hyperspectral imaging is a non-contact, non-destructive technique that combines spectroscopy and imaging to extract information from a sample. This technology has recently emerged as a powerful technique for food analysis. In this study, the potential of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) to predict white button mushroom moisture content (MC) was investigated. Mushrooms were subjected to dehydration at 45 ± 1 °C for different time periods (0, 30, 60 and 120 min) to obtain representative samples at different moisture levels (93.40 ± 0.62%, 82.76 ± 2.11%, 73.20 ± 2.60% and 60.89 ± 4.32% wet basis [wb]). Hyperspectral images of the mushrooms were obtained using a pushbroom system operating in the wavelength range of 400–1000 nm. Hunter L, a and b colour values of the mushrooms were also measured. The average reflectance spectra of samples at different MC levels were obtained and Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR) models were built to predict mushroom moisture content. To reduce the spectral variability caused by factors unrelated to MC such as scattering effects and differences in sample height, different spectral pre-treatments were applied. The Standard Normal Variate (SNV) transformation was found to be the best approach among the wavelength range studied, resulting in the greatest reduction in Root Mean Square Error of Cross Validation (RMSECV) and Root Mean Square Error of Prediction (RMSEP) for a 4-component PLSR model. RMSECV of 5.50 (% wb) and RMSEP of 5.58 (% wb) were obtained for the calibration and test sets of data, respectively. Prediction maps were generated from hyperspectral data to show the predictive model performance at pixel level. This study shows the potential of hyperspectral imaging for prediction of mushroom moisture content in the studied wavelength range. The implemented method highlighted contrast between areas of different moisture content to achieve better knowledge of dehydration distribution over the mushroom surface.     

Hyperspectral imaging for the investigation of quality deterioration in sliced mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) during storage

In this study, the potential application of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) for quality prediction of white mushroom slices during storage at 4 °C and 15 °C was investigated. Mushroom slice quality was measured in terms of moisture content, colour (CIE Lightness, L* and yellowness, b*) and texture (hardness, H and chewiness, Ch). Hyperspectral images were obtained using a pushbroom line-scanning HSI instrument, operating in the wavelength range of 400–1,000 nm with spectroscopic resolution of 5 nm. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and Principal Component Regression (PCR) models were developed to investigate the relationship between reflectance and the various quality parameters measured. 20 optimal wavelengths for quality prediction were selected after performing an exhaustive search for the best subsets of predictor variables on a calibration set of 84 samples. PCR applied to the set of optimal wavelengths gave the best performance as compared to MLR and PCR on the entire wavelength range. When applied to an independent validation set of samples, PCR models developed on the calibration set were capable of predicting moisture content with RMSEP of 0.74% w.b. and R ² of 0.75, L* with RMSEP of 0.47 and R ² of 0.95, b* with RMSEP of 0.66 and R ² of 0.75, H with RMSEP of 0.49 N and R ² of 0.77 and Ch with RMSEP of 0.27 N and R ² of 0.72. Virtual images showing the distribution of moisture content on the mushroom surface were generated from the estimated PCR model. Results from this study could be used for the development of a non-destructive monitoring system for prediction of sliced mushroom quality.     

Development of shelf-life kinetic model for modified atmosphere packaging of fresh sliced mushrooms

Mushrooms are highly perishable and their shelf-life depends on processing, package properties and environmental conditions during storage and distribution. The aims of this work were to evaluate the effect of temperature and number of film perforations on quality and develop shelf-life kinetic model for a modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) for sliced button mushrooms. Sliced mushrooms were packed in a tray, covered with cellophane film, and stored for 7 days at four levels of temperature (0, 5, 10, and 15 °C) and three levels of perforations at each temperature ranging the number of perforations from 1 (58 perforations per m²) to 6 (349 perforations per m²). Headspace gas composition and quality parameters (weight loss, pH, firmness and colour) were measured throughout the storage period. Increasing the storage temperature required an increase of the number of perforations in order to obtain the optimum MAP conditions. Temperature had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on quality of sliced mushrooms. Firmness was identified as a critical quality parameter; therefore, a kinetic model was developed to describe the influence of temperature on firmness and predict shelf-life of sliced mushrooms. Fresh sliced mushrooms had a shelf-life of 1, 2, 4, and 7.5 days at 15, 10, 5, and 0 °C, respectively, under optimum MAP conditions.     

Arsenic speciation analysis of cultivated white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) using high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Agaricus bisporus mushrooms were grown in compost amended with either arsenic-contaminated mine waste or an arsenate solution, to a final concentration of approximately 200 microg g(-1). Fungi were cultivated at a small-scale mushroom facility in Vineland (ON), where the controlled environment allowed for a large number of fruiting bodies (mushrooms) to be produced. The total arsenic concentrations as well as speciation were examined for each treatment over several harvests (breaks). Total concentrations were determined by acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) detection and ranged from 2.3 to 16 microg g(-1) dry mass in treatment mushrooms. Arsenic compounds were extracted from mushrooms with methanol/water (1:1 v/v), and separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC, anion/cation exchange) before detection with ICP-MS. Fruiting bodies from all treatments contained arsenite, dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and arsenobetaine (AB), and to a lesser extent arsenate and trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO). The ratio of arsenic compounds did not vary greatly over the first three harvests. AB was absent in compost not inoculated with A. bisporus supporting the hypothesis that AB is a product of fungal, not microbial, arsenic metabolism. X-ray absorption spectroscopy results lead us to hypothesize that AB plays a role in nutrient translocation within the fruiting body, as well as maintaining turgor pressure to ensure the mushroom cap remains elevated for maximum spore dispersal.     

Comparison of the texture of fresh and preserved Agaricus bisporus and Boletus edulis mushrooms

This work compares changes during the production process and storage period in the texture of canned Agaricus bisporus and Boletus edulis mushrooms previously blanched in water, blanched or soaked and blanched in solutions containing citric, l ‐ascorbic and lactic acids. The texture was examined using instruments [textural profile analysis (TPA), Kramer shear cell (KSC)] and sensory analysis [five‐point, profiling (P)]. Canning B. edulis mushrooms reduced their hardness, chewiness and gumminess (TPA), the values for force and work (KC), and brittleness and crispiness (P), although increasing their cohesiveness (TPA). Canning A. bisporus mushrooms reduced their hardness (TPA) and the expenditure of work, but increased their cohesiveness, hardness, crispiness and firmness (P). Twelve‐month storage of both species of canned mushrooms led to a reduction in brittleness and crispiness (P). The type of pre‐treatment applied affected the texture only when determined using profile analysis, and significant differences in hardness, crispiness and firmness between blanched‐only and soaked and blanched products were mainly found in B. edulis.     

Effects of UV‐C irradiation on the physiological and antioxidant responses of button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) during storage

Novel postharvest technology not only preserves the freshness of fruits and vegetables, but also triggers the biosynthesis of antioxidant compounds as a secondary response. This study examined the browning and antioxidant properties of button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) treated with UV‐C irradiation in combination with cold storage. Three sample preparation methods for antioxidant activity analysis, simulative gastrointestinal digestion (GAR), direct evaluation (QUENCHER) and traditional solvent extraction (TSE), were used to evaluate the samples, and followed analysing by both FRAP and ABTS assays. Broadly, the results indicated that, following an initial increase, UV‐C irradiation suppressed browning during a cold storage period of 18 days. And the total phenolic content of the treated mushrooms were higher than that of the control, while the ascorbic acid content decreased sharply during storage, and UV‐C treatment had negative effects on ascorbic acid content. Results from the QUENCHER and GAR methods showed that UV‐C treatment significantly increases the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of mushrooms throughout the entire storage period, and have a larger magnitude than that of TSE method. In conclusion, the combination of UV‐C irradiation and cold storage showed great potential for improving mushroom quality as a new postharvest technology.     

Radical‐scavenging properties of extracts from the white button mushroom,Agaricus bisporus

BACKGROUND: Agaricus bisporus is the premier cultivated edible mushroom but is usually considered to be of lesser value nutritionally and medicinally compared with other cultivated mushrooms. The objective of this study was to investigate the radical‐scavenging properties of methanolic extracts and the free radical‐processing enzyme activities of water extracts from A. bisporus fruit bodies. Analyses were performed on total fruit bodies from three strains and on separated stipe, cap and gills from one strain, all cultivated experimentally under the same conditions. RESULTS: EC₅₀ values of scavenging ability on 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH^?), scavenging ability on 2,2‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) radical cations (ABTS^?+) and reducing power of methanolic extracts from total fruit bodies ranged between 1.7 and 5.0 and were 1.1–1.9 times higher in a white hybrid than in two wild strains, cream and brown. The gills exhibited higher antioxidant activities relative to the stipe and cap. In water extracts, glutathione peroxidase activities were up to eight times higher than glutathione reductase activities and no difference was observed between strains. Catalase activity was highest in the brown wild strain. The only significant differences in free radical‐processing enzymes between the three parts of the mushroom were higher catalase activity in the gills and lower glutathione reductase activity in the stipe. CONCLUSION: The radical‐scavenging properties of the button mushroom are comparable to those of other edible mushrooms and dependent on the strain and on the section of the fruit body. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Impact of processing on polysaccharides obtained from button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus)

Agaricus bisporus fruiting bodies were subjected to processing: blanching, boiling in water and blanching followed by lactic acid fermentation. Water soluble polysaccharides were obtained from fruiting bodies, quantified and analysed in terms of chemical composition, antioxidant capacity and antiproliferative activity towards cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and T-47D). The content of water soluble polysaccharides ranged from 7.35 ± 0.12 to 6.90 ± 0.17 mg g⁻¹ fresh weight of sample. Boiling in water and blanching followed by fermenting caused minor decrease in the content. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy of the extracted polysaccharides showed that both α- and β-linkages are present in the samples. Size exclusion chromatography confirmed the presence of 163.3 and 1.9 kDa molecules. The processing caused changes in chemical composition (protein and phenolics content decreased). The isolated polysaccharides exerted antioxidant and antiproliferative activities. Both the activities were slightly lowered as the result of the processing.