The common mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) is a fungus of the Basidiomycota division that is characterized, among other aspects, by presenting a whitish rounded carpophor and a large number of lamellae in the hymenium. The latter is protected by a veil that is broken when the fungus reaches its full development..
This is the species of mushroom with the highest production worldwide, due not only to its pleasant taste, but also to the nutritional and medicinal properties it has, highlighting that it is low in carbohydrates and rich in B complex vitamins, potassium, iron, copper and selenium.
In addition, it contains substances that can act as aromatase inhibitors, thus helping to prevent breast cancer in menopausal women, to maintain a healthy prostate, as well as to boost the immune system thanks to its beta-glucans..
The common mushroom has saprophytic habits, therefore it can be cultivated in compost bins. In these growing conditions, Agaricus bisporus can be attacked by some pathogens and pests, such as Pernicious Mycogone, Pseudomonas spp, and several species of flies.
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The hat of Agaricus bisporus It is initially globose, but later changes to concave or slightly flattened. This hat can reach up to 18 cm in diameter, but generally does not exceed 13 cm. Its surface is covered by a powdery cuticle in which scales and spots can appear with age.
The hymenium (structure that contains the basidia), has numerous lamellae that are not attached to the foot. These lamellae have a fleshy consistency and a white or pale pink color, but then turn dark brown or black at maturity..
The basidia are marginal and bisporic, rather than tetrasporic as normally occurs in the genus Agaricus. The spores are brown to slightly purple in color, elliptical to ovoid in shape, smooth and with a size that ranges between 5 and 8 by 4 and 6 microns..
It has a simple and membranous, ascending ring, which in its youth is attached to the bell and is persistent in the middle or lower part of the foot at maturity. Lacks volva.
The foot of Agaricus bisporus it is smooth, fibrous, cylindrical, with a height of up to 8 cm long and a diameter of 3 cm, easily removable from the hat.
The gender Agaricus it belongs to the Agaricaceae family, class Agaricomycetes of the Basidiomycota. It was described by Carlos Linneo in 1735, to cover a great diversity of terrestrial fungi provided with lamina and foot. This name was renamed as Pratella and later as Psalliot.
Currently this genus contains more than 300 species worldwide, some of which, including the common mushroom, are edible, but others are very poisonous. The species Agaricus bisporus was described by the Danish mycologist J.E. Lange and currently has some varieties.
The most commercialized variety is A. bisporus var hortensis, that presents a white coloration throughout its surface, with some pink hues in its flesh. Agaricus bisporus var brunnescens is the variety marketed under the names of portobello or crimini, depending on its size and stage of development.
The common mushroom is the species with the highest production in the world among cultivated species, with estimated annual volumes of more than 4 million tons for 2009. The main producers are China and France.
These volumes, however, must be underestimated due to the ease of cultivation and few space requirements for it..
The common mushroom is easy to grow if its demands for light, humidity, nutrients and temperature are properly controlled. It can be grown in small gardens isolated from sunlight, and even in sacks or boxes. The spores can be purchased in specialized stores.
The interested person can prepare a compost with abundant decomposing organic matter, horse manure being a good compound for this activity. It should be kept moist but not excessively moist, to avoid the proliferation of other unwanted organisms. Nor can it receive sunlight.
Different organisms act as pathogens or pests of the common mushroom. Among the pathogens are bacteria, as well as fungi and related groups. In turn, its main pests are made up of insects.
The main disease that attacks Agaricus bisporus It is called a dry bubble and is caused by various species of the genus Verticillum. Vectors are rodents, insects, and humans themselves.
Pernicious Mycogone It is one of the most frequent pathogens, which produces the disease called wet bubble or mole, which causes the internal rot of the fungus.
Other pathogens to highlight are Trichoderma spp., Dactylium spp., Diehliomyces spp., Pseudomonas tolaasii Y P. aeruginosa.
The main pests that affect Agaricus bisporus are flies belonging to the species Lycoriella mali, as well as several species of Megaselia and of Mycophila. These insects feed on the fungus and can leave necrotic areas at the attack site and in drill galleries..
Some species of nematodes can feed on the mycelium of the fungus. Mites can also affect mushrooms, and they can be seen as a reddish powder on the mushroom cap when they are concentrated in that area..
Mushrooms are characterized by being very low in carbohydrates, which is why they contribute very few calories to the diet (less than 30 kcal per 100 grams). They are also low in fat, fiber and protein..
Instead they are rich in minerals, such as potassium, which helps in nerve transmission and the flow of nutrients in the body; magnesium, which improves cardiovascular health and controls constipation, and selenium, with anticancer properties. It also has iodine, phosphorus, calcium and zinc.
In addition, it contains vitamins A, complex B (B2, B3, B1 and folic acid), C, D and E. For all this, mushrooms are good for losing weight, they increase the body's defenses, help to control the levels of blood sugar, have antioxidant, diuretic, hepatoprotective and antianemic properties.
Frequent consumption of mushrooms helps to avoid the effects of free radicals, migraines and fluid retention. It also prevents the growth and proliferation of cancer cells and helps regulate intestinal transit and preserve healthy skin, hair and nails..
Aqueous extracts of carpophores have shown anticancer properties, preventing up to 100% the proliferation of some types of cancer cells in laboratory studies. The mushroom also contains agarithin, a compound with proven carcinogenic properties.
However, the amounts of such a compound in mushrooms are so low that it would be necessary to consume 350 grams of fresh mushrooms daily for a period of 50 years, for the risk of developing tumors to be significant..
Basidomycetes in general exhibit both sexual and asexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction involves the formation of basidiospores. In the latter type, only one parent may intervene (homothalic, pseudo-homothalic) or more than one intervene (heterothalic).
On Agaricus bisporicus, as in the rest of the basidomycetes, asexual reproduction can occur by fragmentation of the mycelium.
Sexual reproduction in the common mushroom can vary slightly depending on the variety in question. Three taxa are amphiphallic, that is, both heterothallic and pseudohomothallic. The reproductive cycle of Agaricus bisporus var. bisporus is amphiphallic with a predominance of pseudohomotalism.
In that subspecies or variety, a sporophor produces a majority of heterokaryotic spores and a small percentage of homokaryotic spores. On A. bisporus var. burnettii Contrary to the previous one, there is a predominance towards pseudohomotalism, where the spores are mostly homokaryotic.
Agaricus bisporus var. eurotetrasporus is homothalic. The mycelium and the sporophor are haploid, the fusion of gametic nuclei and meiosis take place in the basidium from identical nuclei.
A basidiospore germinates to produce a haploid primary mycelium, then a pair of mycelia of a different reproductive type (or two hyphae of a mycelium if it is a homothalic variety) fuse and a secondary mycelium is obtained in which karyogamy does not occur..
The secondary mycelium grows in the soil and when conditions are optimal, it develops the fruiting body that emerges from the soil. This fruiting body (carpophorus) is formed by the foot and the cap or crown. At the bottom of the hat is the hymenium with hundreds of lamellae, where the basidia will line up.
After a few days, the two nuclei of each basidium fuse to produce a diploid zygote, which rapidly undergoes meiosis to form haploid spores. In each basidium two spores will be produced, which is characteristic and gives rise to the name of the species.
Agaricus bisporus It is a saprophytic species and feeds on decomposing organic matter, for which it releases a series of enzymes that allow it to digest said organic matter and then absorb it. In cultivation, this type of feeding of the fungus is used by growing it directly in composters.
A combination that is suitable in growing these mushrooms contains oat, barley or wheat straw, sawdust, sandy soil and horse manure..
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