Fungi of the genus Trichoderma are a very large group of microorganisms that play a significant role in the environment. They use a variety of mechanisms to colonise various ecological niches. Several Trichoderma spp. positively affect plants by stimulating plant growth, and protecting plants from fungal and bacterial pathogens. They are used in biological plant protection as biofungicides as well as in bioremediation. Members of the genus Trichoderma are also utilised in various industry branches – mainly in the production of enzymes, antibiotics, and other metabolites, but also of biofuel. Moreover, the genus Trichoderma comprises edible and medicinal mushrooms, but also the pathogens of humans. Currently, Trichoderma has entered the genomic era and parts of genome sequences are publicly available. This is why, Trichoderma fungi have the potential to be used for human needs to an even greater extent than before. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to increase the efficiency and safety of the application of these fungi.

The aim of the study was to investigate the antioxidant properties, phenolic and flavonoid contents and composition and content of ascorbic acid in Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus eryngii enriched simultaneously with selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn). Non-enriched mushrooms contained Se and Zn at the level as in the most popular mushrooms. The total phenolic content (TPC) for non-enriched P. ostreatus and P. eryngii was 9.64 ± 0.33 and 7.91 ± 1.02 mg/g of extract, the total flavonoid content was 2.11 ± 0.19 and 1.26 ± 0.17 mg/g of extract, and ascorbic acid content ranged from 10.28 ± 0.39 to 16.64 ± 0.47 mg/100 g DW, respectively. Methanolic extracts contained 4-hydroxybenzoic, ferulic, p-coumaric, protocatechuic, t-cinnamic and vanillic acids and naringenin. In methanolic extract of P. eryngii, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid was also quantified. The correlation between the TPC and antioxidant activity in mushroom was confirmed. Additionally, the correlations between Zn and Se concentration in fruiting bodies and EC₅₀ value and phenolic compounds were confirmed. Our results with simultaneous supplementation with Zn and Se provide the opportunity to increase the content of the elements in fruiting bodies and to improve antioxidant properties and antioxidant contents in enriched mushrooms. Additionally, the obtained results demonstrated that simultaneous enrichment with micronutrients with a contrary effect on antioxidant properties can activate synthesis of phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid. The investigation is the first study evaluating the effect of addition of two elements to the substrate at the same time on antioxidant properties of mushrooms.

In the present study, we reinvestigate the diversity of Trichoderma in Poland utilizing a combination of morphological and molecular/phylogenetic methods. A total of 170 isolates were collected from six different substrata at 49 sites in Poland. These were divided among 14 taxa as follows: 110 of 170 Trichoderma isolates were identified to the species level by the analysis of their ITS1, ITS2 rDNA sequences as: T. harzianum (43 isolates), T. aggressivum (35), T. citrinoviride (11), T. hamatum (9), T. virens (6), T. longibrachiatum (4), T. polysporum (1), and T. tomentosum (1); 60 isolates belonging to the Viride clade were identified based on a fragment of the translation-elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) gene as: T. atroviride (20 isolates), T. gamsii (2), T. koningii (17), T. viridescens (13), T. viride (7), and T. koningiopsis (1). Identifications were made using the BLAST interface in TrichOKEY and TrichoBLAST (http://www.isth.info). The most diverse substrata were soil (nine species per 22 isolates) and decaying wood (nine species per 75 isolates). The most abundant species (25%) isolated from all substrata was T. harzianum.

There are about 40 species in the Pleurotus genus, including those with high economic significance, i.e. P. ostreatus and P. pulmonarius . The fruiting bodies of oyster mushrooms are of high nutritional and health-promoting value. In addition, many species belonging to the Pleurotus genus have been used as sources of substances with documented medicinal properties, such as high-molecular weight bioactive compounds (polysaccharides, peptides and proteins) and low-molecular weight compounds (terpenoids, fatty acid esters and polyphenols). The bioactive substances contained in the mycelium and fruiting bodies of Pleurotus species exhibit immunostimulatory, anti-neoplastic, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-oxidative properties. Their multidirectional positive influence on the human organism is the result of interaction of bioactive substances. Extracts from individual Pleurotus species can be used for the production of dietary supplements increasing the organism’s immunity. They are also used for the production of cosmetics. They can be added to functional foods as probiotics, or used as natural preservatives or ingredients of special foodstuffs for patients with specific diseases.

Among the Agaricus genus, both cultivated and wild growing species can be found. In the study, the profile of phenolic compounds and organic acids, as well as ergosterol content of different species of edible Agaricus, was estimated together with a comparison of their ability to scavenge DPPH radicals. The investigation was carried out on seven strains of Agaricus bisporus (one brown and six white), Agaricus blazei, Agaricus arvensis, Agaricus bitorquis, Agaricus campestris and Agaricus silvaticus. Before analysis, the samples were dried. Among nine organic acids detected in Agaricus species, oxalic, lactic and succinic acids were the most abundant. The profile was very heterogeneous with A. silvaticus, A. camperstis and A. arvensis found to be the species richest in organic acids. The phenolic profile revealed only phenolic acids, among which gallic, caffeic and ferulic were detected in all species. The dominant were gallic, trans-cinnamic and chlorogenic acids. The highest sum of phenolic acids and total phenolic content was found in A. brasiliensis. Antiradical of the extracts against DPPH radical was as follows: A. bitorquis > A. arvensis > A. brasiliensis > brown A. bisporus > A. campestris > A. silvaticus > white A. bisporus. The lowest EC₅₀ value was estimated for A. brasiliensis and A. arvensis. A correlation was confirmed between antioxidant activity and phenolic acids. Ergosterol content reached the highest level in A. silvaticus and A. campestris. The investigation emphasizes the value of Agaricus species as a source of different bioactive compounds including phenolic compounds and organic acids.

There is an ongoing interest in the production of mushrooms as food, and with their consumption on the rise, there is a need to establish different safety measures. In the present study, six mushroom species (Agrocybe cylindracea, Clitocybe maxima, Flammulina velutipes, Ganoderma lucidum, Lentinula edodes and Pleurotus eryngii) were cultivated on two commonly used substrates (A—based on alder and beech sawdust; B—based on oak sawdust and flax shives). The aims were to determine their growth and the accumulation of 70 elements in their fruiting bodies, 33 of which were detected in all analysed samples and were used for statistical evaluation. Cultivation of C. maxima, G. lucidum and L. edodes resulted in higher yield and mineral content when substrate A was used, cultivation of A. cylindracea and F. velutipes yielded better results on substrate B, P. eryngii cultivation outcomes were similar for both substrates. L. edodes was found to have a high affinity to accumulate Cd, C. maxima can bioconcentrate Al and Ni, Ganoderma lucidum—Pb, while F. velutipes—Hg. The study indicated that the chemical composition of substrates could affect both the yield and the level of various toxic and nutritional elements.