Increase of vitamin D2 by UV-B exposure during the growth phase of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus)

  • Hanne L. Kristensen Aarhus University Department of Horticulture
  • Eva Rosenqvist Copenhagen University Department of Agriculture and Ecology
  • Jette Jakobsen Technical University of Denmark National Food Institute
Keywords: Ergocalciferol, Post harvest, Sunlight, Wild mushrooms, Yield

Abstract

Background: Mushrooms are the only non-animal food source of vitamin D. Wild mushrooms have naturally high vitamin D2 content, and cultivated mushrooms produce vitamin D2 from ergosterol when exposed to supplementary UV-B during the post-harvest phase. Objectives: This study investigated the effects of providing supplementary UV-B during the growth phase on vitamin D2 formation and the interactions with growth of mushrooms, as compared to supplementary UV-B during the post-harvest phase or exposure to sunlight for both cultivated and wild mushrooms. Methods: Experiments were carried out with exposure to supplementary UV-B just prior to harvest in the range of 0-2,400 mJ cm-2. Mushrooms grew for 2 days with or without repeated UV-B exposure each day. Vitamin D2 and growth rate were determined. Some mushrooms were post-harvest treated by exposure at 200 mJ cm-2 supplementary UV-B or natural sunlight, prior to vitamin D2 determination. Results: The content of vitamin D2 was 0.2-164 µg 100 g-1 fresh weight (FW), and there was a linear relationship between UV-dose up to 1,000 mJ cm-2 and vitamin D2 content. The fast growth rate of the mushrooms diluted the vitamin D2 from 24 to 3 mg 100 g-1 within 2 days of exposure at 200 mJ cm-2. Following repeated UV-B exposure, vitamin D2 increased to 33 µg vitamin D2 100 g-1. Growth was unaffected by UV-B. Post-harvest exposure to supplementary UV-B resulted in a higher vitamin D2 content of 32 µg 100 g-1 compared to the 24 µg 100 g-1 obtained from exposure to UV-B during the growth phase. In contrast, wild and cultivated mushrooms with and without exposure to sunlight had vitamin D2 content in the range of 0.2-1.5 mg vitamin D2 100 g-1. Conclusions: This study showed that mushrooms with a well-defined content of vitamin D2 can be obtained by exposure to supplementary UV-B just prior to harvest.

Keywords: ergocalciferol; growth phase; post-harvest; sunlight; wild mushrooms; yield

(Published: 2 April 2012)

Citation: Food & Nutrition Research 2012. 56: 7114 - DOI: 10.3402/fnr.v56i0.7114

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Published
2012-04-02
How to Cite
Kristensen H. L., Rosenqvist E., & Jakobsen J. (2012). Increase of vitamin D<sub>2</sub> by UV-B exposure during the growth phase of white button mushroom (<em>Agaricus bisporus</em&gt;). Food & Nutrition Research. https://doi.org/10.3402/fnr.v56i0.7114
Section
Vitamin Supplement