Outbreaks of cobweb disease are becoming increasingly prevalent globally, severely affecting the quality and yield of Agaricus bisporus. However, cobweb disease-resistant strains are rare, and little is known regarding the biocontrol management of the disease. Here, we isolated a pathogen from a severe outbreak of cobweb disease on A. bisporus in China and identified it as Cladobotryum mycophilum based on morphological characteristics, rDNA sequences, and pathogenicity tests. We then tested 30 A. bisporus strains for cobweb disease resistance by inoculating with C. mycophilum and evaluated the activity of different botanicals. We found that two wild strains of A. bisporus originating from the Tibetan Plateau in China were resistant to cobweb disease, and four commercial strains were susceptible. Yield comparisons of the inoculated and uninoculated strains of A. bisporus with C. mycophilum revealed yield losses of 6–38%. We found that seven botanicals could inhibit C. mycophilum growth in vitro, particularly Syzygium aromaticum, which exhibited the maximum inhibition (99.48%) and could thus be used for the further biocontrol of cobweb disease. Finally, we identified the bioactive chemical constituents present in S. aromaticum that could potentially be used as a treatment for C. mycophilum infection using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. These findings provide new germplasm resources for enhancing A. bisporus breeding and for the identification of botanicals for the biocontrol of cobweb disease.

Ganoderma lingzhi is a well-known source of natural fungal medicines which has been given for the treatment of several diseases. China is one of the major commercial producers of Ganoderma mushroom worldwide. However, with the expansion of the commercial cultivation, the occurrence of the fungal diseases on G. lingzhi has also been increased. The green mold disease symptoms were observed in the cultivation base of G. lingzhi in Zuojia Town, Jilin City, Jilin Province, China, causing the basidiomes to be rotten and withered, and the green mycelium layer generated gradually. The pathogenicity tests showed the same symptoms as appeared naturally in Zuojia mushroom base. Morphology characters revealed conidia green, ellipsoid, globose, 2.56–4.83 × 2.09–4.22 μm, length-width ratio was 1.1–1.2 (n = 10). Conidiophores trichoderma-like, often asymmetry, branches solitary, paired or in whorls of 3 phialides formed solitary, paired or in whorl, variable in shape, lageniform, sometimes ampulliform or subulate. While using molecular methodology, comparing with the sequences of Trichoderma hengshanicum from GenBank, the analyzed sequence showed 97.32% homology with the RPB2 sequences, 100% with the TEF1-α sequences. A fungus isolated from the diseased tissues was identified based on morphology and molecular studies as T. hengshanicum. This is the first report of T. hengshanicum causing the green mold disease of G. lingzhi in China.

Agaricus bisporus is well known for its nutraceutical properties. To meet consumer market demand, there is an urgent need for new strains with disease resistance and a diverse nutrient profile for commercial cultivation. Wild germplasm resources provide a good source for the breeding of new strains for this purpose. In this study, we evaluated the physical, chemical, and structural properties of wild domesticated (CCMJ1351) and major commercially cultivated strains (CCMJ1013, CCMJ1028, and CCMJ1343) of A. bisporus from China. The results showed significant differences among the strains for all parameters measured. In terms of morphological characteristics, CCMJ1351 possessed the highest stipe thickness, fruiting body individual weight, cohesiveness, and springiness; CCMJ1013 demonstrated maximum pileus diameter and thickness; CCMJ1028 exhibited the highest textural hardness and color characteristics; and strain CCMJ1343 had the highest yield. CCMJ1351 ranked top among all the strains for proximate composition, rheological profile, and structural and mechanical properties, containing 21.93% crude protein and the highest dry matter, crude fat, and fiber contents. However, the bioactive chemical constituents present in the four strains were very similar, especially β-(1→3)-glucan, according to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, while some minimal peaks varied among the different strains. Therefore, in combination with previously identified high disease-resistance traits, the wild domesticated strain CCMJ1351 constitutes a good candidate for further exploitation in breeding programs and is suitable for fresh consumption as well as incorporation into various food products.

The antidiabetic effect of different doses of Water Extract (WE) and Ethanol Extract (EE) was tested on a high-fat diet, and streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Parameters were evaluated with normal control (NC), diabetes mellitus control (DM), and metformin (M) was given to rats. In the experiment, nine groups were used with eight rats in each group and three doses of each WE and EE were used with low, medium, and high. The results revealed that DM lost a significant amount of weight, whereas NC weight was increasing throughout the experiment. After treatment with F. pinicola, the EE group’s weight increased gradually. The liver, kidney, and pancreas weight decreased after STZ injection and enhanced to NC in EE treated groups. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were observed to be significantly lower after F. pinicola treatment. Serum insulin levels also restored to the normal after mushroom extracts supplementation. Specifically, the STZ-induced hyperglycaemia is inhibited by EE-high dose administration. The biochemical analysis revealed that EE-high dose treatment increased the HDL-C and decreased TC, TG, and LDL-C. Results demonstrated that EE-high dose administration prevented the organ tissues from oxidative stress by normalizing the anti-oxidant levels, CAT, SOD, and GSH-Px suppressed the lethal effect of MDA. The study concluded that F. pinicola EE at the dose (300mg/kg) has a more hypoglycemic, hyperinsulinemic, anti-oxidant, and anti-hyperlipidemic effect than NC, DM, and M, and regulates hyperglycaemia by increased insulin secretion.