mushrooms. The precise extent of production is China is not entirely clear, as estimates of production volumes according to the FAO-Stat and CEFA differ considerably.
The conference was dominated by three main sessions. The session on “Mycomolecules, medicinal, nutritional and nutraceutical proper- ties” with 18 presentations (including 2 keynote lectures) and 20 posters was the largest. Dr Badalyan summarised the substances extracted from mushrooms with a possible medicinal application that are actually used as ingredients in products. The list varied from nutraceuticals to skin care products. She identified a lack of standardisation in this industry as one of the impediments holding back growth. Dr. Berovic gave an overview of the experiments performed by his group into the possibility of producing large amounts of polysaccharides in fermenters. The other presentations often concerned the possible medicinal properties of a wide range of mushrooms. Dr. Sudha Govindan’s contribution was noteworthy. She presented a study in which animal testing was used to demonstrate that the polysaccharides derived from Calocybe indica enabled the learning ability to be returned in mice. In this study, the polysaccharides were administered to mice in whom a reduced learning ability had been induced through administering D-galactose. Administering the polysaccharides resulted in a significant improvement in the learning ability. Dr. Krishnamoorthy gave a lecture on the cultivation of this mushroom and explained that this variety required a high temperature (30-35oC), high air humidity (>85%) and sufficient light into order to produce fruiting bodies. The biological effi- ciency is high, between 120 and 180%, depending on the strain used. The mushrooms formed can be stored for ten days without requiring cooling. There are now more than 120 growers of this variety active in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. One of the greatest obstacles preventing the unequivocal establishment of the medicinal effect of the molecules in mushrooms is the lack of studies which demonstrate the effects on humans. Studies in petri dishes, with cell lines or even testing performed on animals are not satisfactory enough to convince the medical professional and governments of the medicinal effects. Dr. Jayasuriya’s research was therefore extremely relevant as she has studied the effect of administering polysaccharides (50 mg/kg body weight) extracted from Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus cystidiosus on the blood sugar levels of healthy volunteers. The effect of fasting on blood sugar concentrations was also examined in the study. When fasting, consumption of
New council and Researcher Award
At an evening meeting on 21 November, new members were elected to the World Society. Dr. Jose Sanchez stepped down as chairman and was succeeded by Dr. Qi Tan of the SAAS. In addition, Dr. Andras Geösel of the Corvinus University in Budapest was promoted from council member to vice-president, a position he shares with Dr. Jean-Michel Savoie from INRA. Dr. Manjit Singh of the Directorate of Mushroom Research of the ICAR took over the secretariat from Dr. Helen Grogan. Dr. Alma Rodriques from Aurora University (Illinois) is acting treasurer, while Mary Obodai from the FRI in Accra, Ghana and Johan Baars from Wageningen UR joined the board as new members. The venue for the next conference was also announced, the event will be hosted in Shanghai in 2018. Prior to the conference, participants were requested to submit candidates for the “Outstanding Researcher” award. On this occasion the honour fell to Dr. John Buswell. Dr. Buswell has devoted many years of research, fi rstly at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and subsequently at the Shanghai Academy of Agricul- tural Science (SAAS), to his great passion: Volvariella volvacea.
John Buswell receives the Outstanding Researcher’ Award.
the polysaccharides lowered the blood sugar concentrations by a good 6% compared with the control group. The effect on the blood sugar peak that occurs some time after a meal was also examined. Consumption of the polysaccha- rides lowered the peak values by some 16% (P.
The event was offi cially opened by litting a candle. Manjit Singh, organiser of ICMBMP8 stands to the left. Daniel Royse, keynote speaker, is in the middle.
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MUSHROOM BUSINESS 9
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