Volume 9 - 2026 - issue 2

1. Utilization of Indigenous Agricultural Waste Materials as Biofilters in Contaminated Water

Authors: Aquino-Comisario GA, Jacob JKS, Maylem GP, Dumasig RC, Aquino SB

Recieved: 23 January 2025, Accepted: 16 February 2026, Published: 10 July 2026

Bioremediation using spent Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sp.) substrate (Pleurotus SMS), wood chips, and charcoal offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to water treatment. However, further study is needed to determine its application in Isabela province due to differences in the composition of mushroom spent substrate in the Philippines compared to those in other countries. Hence, this study was conducted to develop a prototype water treatment system integrated with different agricultural waste materials to treat heavy metals, such as cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As), and Escherichia coli contamination in water. A prototype water treatment system with separate compartments for Pleurotus SMS (200 g), wood chips (70 g), and charcoal (180 g) as biosorbents was developed. Separate biofilter experiments for Cd and As, and E. coli were performed at various flow rates (1 mL/min, 5 mL/min, and 10 mL/min) and sampling times, and the percent removal and bacterial concentration were calculated. The water treatment system with mushroom spent substrate registered the highest efficiency at the slowest flow rate of 1 mL/min (i.e. 97% for Cd and 95% for As). However, of the two heavy metals, As significantly registered a higher percent removal than Cd, even at faster flow rates, suggesting that the filter had a greater affinity towards As than Cd. The decrease in E. coli levels from 154 CFU/mL to an average of 15 CFU/mL over 48 hours of filtration indicates that biofiltration could be a feasible substitute for conventional membrane-based methods. The fabricated water treatment system based on oyster mushroom spent substrate is effective for the removal of pathogens as well as Cd and As from contaminated water. These findings can be used as a basis for a sustainable solution for treating heavy metals from industrial wastewater and simultaneously solving the waste issue in mushroom farms.

Keywords: Arsenic – Cadmium – charcoal – Escherichia coli – mushroom spent – mycoremediation – wood chip

2. Coniambigua diorygmatis and Distopyrenis graphidis: Two new lichenicolous fungi on Graphidaceae from India

Authors: Singh P, Singh S, Aptroot A.

Recieved: 17 July 2025, Accepted: 17 February 2026, Published: 13 July 2026

Two new lichenicolous fungi, Coniambigua diorygmatis and Distopyrenis graphidis, are described from India. Coniambigua diorygmatis is characterized by the black sporodochia producing dark brown, ellipsoidal, non-septate conidia and was found on the thallus of Diorygma junghuhnii, whereas D. graphidis is distinguished by perithecioid ascomata with an apical ostiole, 1-sepate brown ascospores on Graphis stenotera.

Keywords: Coniambigua – Distopyrenis – India – Lichenicolous fungi – new species

3. Aqueous extract and proteolytic hydrolysates from oyster mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius) and its bioactivities

Authors: Hein KH, Saharat K, Dedvisitsakul P, Roytrakul S, Saichana N, Chamyuang S, Zhao Y, Kakumyan P.

Recieved: 27 June 2025, Accepted: 22 April 2026, Published: 17 July 2026

Pleurotus species are edible fungi that are extensively cultivated and consumed worldwide. Their fruiting bodies contain polysaccharides and proteins. Protein hydrolysates from oyster mushrooms, Pleurotus pulmonarius, were prepared using Alcalase^® in this study. The isolated protein hydrolysates were filtered to produce fractions of molecular weights of less than 3 kDa and greater than 3 kDa. Following separation by ultrafiltration spin columns, the two fractions were utilized to assess antioxidant and anti-α-glucosidase activities, as well as cell viability in a human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (SW480 cells). The effective concentration that scavenged 50% (IC₅₀) of 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazl (DPPH) radicals exhibited a distinct pattern between the crude extract and protein fractions. The protein hydrolysate with a molecular weight exceeding 3 kDa showed the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity, whereas the crude extract protein fraction exhibited the highest ABTS radical scavenging activity. The crude extract protein demonstrated the highest inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase (62.48 ± 1.52%). Additionally, this study assessed cell viabilities in a human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (SW480 cells). The results indicated that the crude extract protein markedly reduced the viability of the SW480 cell lines, as determined by the MTT assay. These findings indicate that crude extract and protein hydrolysates derived from the fruiting bodies of P. pulmonarius have numerous advantageous properties and may serve as a functional food ingredient.

Keywords: mushroom peptide – antioxidant activity – anticancer – Pleurotus

4. Bioactive potential of Auricularia cornea: Cytotoxicity, antioxidant activity, and beta-glucan content of mycelium and fruiting bodies

Authors: Walker A, Janta C, Rujanapun N, Charoensup R, Hyde KD, Thongklang N. 2026

Recieved: 19 June 2026, Accepted: 18 February 2026, Published: 25 July 2026

Auricularia cornea, an underexplored species within the medicinal Auricularia genus, was investigated for its bioactive potential, including cytotoxicity, antioxidant activity, and β-glucan content, promoting good health and well-being through natural nutraceuticals. This study compared three A. cornea isolates (MFLUCC 23-0084, MFLUCC 18-0346, and MFLUCC 18-0347) with commercial Auricularia spp. to evaluate their therapeutic and functional food applications. The methanolic extracts of mycelium were analyzed for free radical scavenging (DPPH assay), cytotoxicity against lung cancer cells (A549) and normal cells (Raw 264.7). β-Glucan content from fruiting bodies was also quantified by exploring sustainable fungal cultivation for high-value bioactive compounds. The results revealed strain-specific bioactivity: MFLUCC 23-0084 exhibited the highest antioxidant (IC₅₀ 5,530 ± 1,039 µg/mL), while MFLUCC 18-0346 showed low cytotoxicity against A549 cells (IC₅₀ 367.27 μg/mL). β-Glucan content varied significantly, with lab-cultivated isolates (12.14–13.22%) yielding less than A. auricula (18.86–24.94%). Low cytotoxicity to normal cells (IC₅₀ >500 μg/mL) and moderate bioactivity suggest A. cornea’s suitability for functional foods, though strain optimization or extraction enhancements may be needed to rival leading species. This study positions A. cornea as a candidate for further development in sustainable nutraceuticals, through antioxidant applications and evaluating cultivation practices for enhanced β-glucan production.

Keywords: Bioactivity – good health – Jelly mushroom – Mushroom extracts – Polysaccharide

5. Optimization of basidiospore germination and morphogenesis of Pleurotus ostreatus and Oudemansiella canarii

Authors: Waing KGD and Dulay RMR

Recieved: 03 July 2025, Accepted: 23 March 2026, Published: 03 August 2026

Mushrooms are valued globally for their nutritional, medicinal, and ecological significance. Beyond their rich content of vitamins, proteins, and minerals, these macroscopic fungi are vital decomposers, playing a critical role in nutrient cycling and even influencing rainfall in forest ecosystems through their spores. This study investigated the optimal conditions for basidiospore germination. It documents the comprehensive developmental stages of two economically important edible mushroom species, Pleurotus ostreatus (CLSU strain), and Oudemansiella canarii (OCNu strain), aiming to enhance cultivation practices and deepen our understanding of their life cycles. Basidiospores were collected from mature fruiting bodies and suspended in sterile distilled water. The study evaluated the influence of various broth media (coconut water, corn grit, potato sucrose, potato dextrose), pH levels (4-8), illumination (lighted, dark, alternating light/dark), and temperature conditions(refrigerated, air-conditioned, room temperature) on spore germination. Results showed that coconut water was the most suitable culture medium for both mushrooms. For O. canarii, optimal germination occurred at pH 6, while P. ostreatus favored pH 7; both were incubated under alternating light/dark conditions at room temperature (33–35 °C). The developmental processes from basidiospore to mature basidiocarp were photo-documented, revealing distinct vegetative (swelling, germ tube formation, elongation, septation, branching, and mycelial thickening) and reproductive stages (primordia, pinhead, stipe elongation, and pileus expansion). Understanding these optimal conditions and developmental stages is crucial for developing effective, sustainable cultural management practices that maximize mushroom biomass production and improve the quality and yield of P. ostreatus and O. canarii in cultivation.

Keywords: basidiospore ‒ biomass ‒ germination ‒ mushroom ‒ primordia

6. Nutritional composition, bioactive polysaccharides, and biological activities of Russula griseocarnosa X. H. Wang, Zhu L. Yang & Knudsen: A comprehensive review

Authors: Hoai LVN, Quoc LPT, Phuong LBB, Quyen PT, Hao PM.

Recieved: 17 November 2025, Accepted: 27 March 2026, Published: 07 August 2026

This review summarizes the existing studies on Russula griseocarnosa, a rare edible mushroom, with the aim of evaluating its nutritional composition and biological activities. The results showed that the mushroom contains high levels of protein, bioactive polysaccharides, essential amino acids, minerals, and unsaturated fatty acids and is rich in phenolic compounds, flavonoids, carotenoids, and ergosterol. The extracted polysaccharides (PRG, PRG1-1) exhibited strong antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activities, mainly through the induction of apoptosis and enhanced ROS production in cancer cells. Compared with many other edible mushrooms, R. griseocarnosa exhibits superior nutritional quality and greater potential for biological functionality. This review demonstrates that the mushroom has high value in the development of functional foods and natural medicines; however, its application remains limited due to the limited in vivo studies. Future research should focus on sustainable cultivation, polysaccharide standardization, and clinical trials to fully exploit the potential of this mushroom.

Keywords: antioxidant activity – anticancer activity – fatty acid – functional mushrooms

7. A sustainable strategy for mass production of endophytic Trichoderma virens 159c and assessment of biological control properties via in vitro and in vivo assays

Authors: Angel LPL, Mohamed Azni INA, Naidu Y, Sundram S.

Recieved: 26 December 2025, Accepted: 25 March 2026, Published: 18 August 2026

Trichoderma has been used as a biological control agent against plant pathogens and has since become a research focus for alternative chemical fertilizers. However, the use of potato dextrose agar as a carrier of Trichoderma for mass production is less suitable for field application due to its short shelf life and high cost. Therefore, this research attempts to utilize agricultural waste from oil palm to generate a high number of good-quality Trichoderma virens 159c spores and to evaluate its antagonistic activity against Ganoderma boninense which causes basal stem rot disease in the oil palm. The formulation, optimized with palm kernel cake and palm pressed fibre supplemented with nitrogen and carbon sources, showed a significant 2.6-fold increase in the total count of spores produced compared to the individual substrates. Enzyme analysis showed that the formulation produced higher levels of lytic and degrading enzymes, especially chitinase, which increased almost 3-fold compared to culturing only on PPF. Disease severity index (DSI) of oil palm seedlings using visual inspection and cross-section of the bole was evaluated for each treatment. The results showed that the plants inoculated with the T. virens 159c formulation had the lowest DSI, exhibiting only 18.3% visual DSI and 17.4% bole DSI, which was 37.3% and 37.1% significantly lower compared to the control, respectively. The present findings showed that the development of a sustainable Trichoderma formulation producing good-quality spores as a potential prophylactic treatment to slow down disease development in the oil palm caused by G. boninense.

Keywords: agriculture biomass – biological control agent – Ganoderma – mass production – Trichoderma

Announcements

Increase in Number of Manuscripts per Issue

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