Methods and compositions for improving the nutritional content of mushrooms and fungi

Abstract

An improved filamentous fungi is disclosed that has an enhanced nutritional profile by utilizing pulsed ultraviolet irradiation. According to the invention, the vitamin D component of mushrooms and other filamentous fungi may be drastically increased with no deleterious affects on appearance with the use of pulsed UV radiation. Mushrooms so treated had up to 1800% DV in one serving of fresh mushrooms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A filamentous fungi product including, tissues, substrate, spent substrate or components thereof with increased vitamin D content produced by the following method:
 irradiating said fungi with pulsed UV irradiation from a UV-B source wherein said pulse is approximately 1-10 J/cm2 per pulse for a period of time of about 0.1 to about 60 seconds wherein approximately 1-50 pulses per second are provided, so that Vitamin D is increased without discoloration or deleterious effects on the appearance of the mushroom.   
     
     
         2 . The product of  claim 1  wherein said filamentous fungi is a mushroom. 
     
     
         3 . The product of  claim 2  wherein said mushroom is selected from the group consisting of  Agaricus bisporus, Lentinula edodes , and  Pleurotus ostreatus.    
     
     
         4 . The product of  claim 3  wherein said mushroom is  Agaricus bisporus.    
     
     
         5 . The product of  claim 3  wherein said mushroom is  Pleurotus ostreatus.    
     
     
         6 . A filamentous fungi product including, tissues, substrate, spent substrate or components thereof with increased vitamin D content produced by the following method:
 obtaining a filamentous fungi, tissue, substrate, or component thereof to be enriched;   exposing said filamentous fungi, tissue, substrate, or component thereof to pulsed UV irradiation from a UV-B source wherein said pulse is approximately 1-10 J/cm2 per pulse for a period of time of about 0.1 to about 60 seconds wherein approximately 1-50 pulses per second are provided, so that Vitamin D is increased without discoloration or deleterious effects on the appearance of the mushroom; and   removing said filamentous fungi tissue substrate or component from said exposure.   
     
     
         7 . The product of  claim 6  wherein said filamentous fungi is a mushroom. 
     
     
         8 . The product of  claim 7  wherein said mushroom is selected from the group consisting of  Agaricus bisporus, Lentinula edodes , and  Pleurotus ostreatus.    
     
     
         9 . The product of  claim 8  wherein said mushroom is  Agaricus bisporus.    
     
     
         10 . The product of  claim 9  wherein said mushroom is  Pleurotus ostreatu.    
     
     
         11 . The product of  claim 6  wherein said substrate or component is in powder form.