Abstract

Results of proximate analysis of four edible species of mushroom collected from different parts of IIT Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India., indicate that Auricularia polytricha was a very good source of crude protein (37%), crude fiber (21.97%), ash (6.87%), calcium (607 mg/g dry weight) and manganese (136 mg/kg dry weight (dw).  Macrolepiota rhodocus was the richest in carbohydrate (48%) and magnesium (250 mg/g), while Clitocybe sp was richest in moisture content (21%), iron (1230 mg/g) and copper (9.0 mg/g). It is also a good source of carbohydrate (42%), calcium (208 mg/g) and manganese (120 mg/g). Lentinus tigrinus was, however, the richest in dry matter (94%), and is also rich in carbohydrate (60%), magnesium (14 mg/g) and copper (1.2 mg/g). It was observed that lipids, sodium and phosphorus contents of the four species were generally very low.

Key words: Edible mushrooms; food composition.