Capacity for colonization and degradation of horse manure and wheat-straw-based compost by different strains of Agaricus subrufescens during the first two weeks of cultivation.

The research article investigates the ability of different Agaricus subrufescens strains to colonize and decompose horse manure and wheat-straw-based compost, which are usually used for cultivating Agaricus bisporus. It is found that some strains of A. subrufescens display similar or superior performance to an A. bisporus control strain in these tasks, without disrupting the functional diversity of microbial communities in the substrate.

Methodology and experiment procedure

• The researchers started by evaluating the ability of different Agaricus subrufescens strains to grow in and decompose compost made from horse manure and wheat straw. These materials are usually used to cultivate a related mushroom species, Agaricus bisporus.
• The team measured various factors indicating decomposition, including the mushroom’s lignocellulolytic (wood breakdown) activities, production of hydrogen peroxide (a common byproduct of fungi’s attack on lignocellulose), and changes in the compound structure of the substrate (using Carbon-13 CP/MAS NMR).

Comparative results

• To provide a benchmark for their results, the researchers also took the same measurements for a control strain of Agaricus bisporus.
• In certain cases, the capable strains of A. subrufescens matched, or even exceeded, the performance of the A. bisporus control strain. This suggests that A. subrufescens is equally or more efficient at decomposing these organic materials.

Assessment of microbial community

• Additionally, the researchers examined whether the growth of A. subrufescens disrupted the functional diversity of other microorganisms present in the compost.
• After two weeks of cultivation, they found no significant impact on the diversity of the microbial communities in the substrate, suggesting that A. subrufescens’ presence does not have a harmful knock-on effect on other microorganisms in the compost.

Implications of the study

• This study’s findings may be valuable in improving the cultivation of the tropical species A. subrufescens — which has various culinary and medicinal uses — on the same compost used in standard European mushroom farming.
• While the study’s results open new possibilities, the researchers’ usage of mesocosms to simulate real cultivation conditions means additional field testing may be needed before these findings can be practically applied.