Protein and essential amino acid status of edible mushrooms as affected by mineral nutrition

Mushrooms are recommended as an unconventional alternative source of protein(1). Three varieties of edible mushroom Pleurotus sajor caju, Pleurotus florida and Agaricus bisporus were cultivated with NPK, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, borax, ammonium molybdate and pyrite application separately. Application of pyrite resulted in highest increase of protein content in Agaricus bisporus (36.79%). Pyrite treatment revealed the highest amount of lysine 7.74, typtophan 3.52 and methionine 1.79 g/100g protein, while lysine in P. florida, typtophan in A. bisporus and methionine in P. florida were identified as prominent limiting amino acids. A littlie or no decline in amino acid content was observed in mushroom varieties after cooking.