Mushroom production and consumption is increasing, but high perishability still represents a major commercial drawback. Besides increasing the product shelf-life, conservation processes should be innocuous to consumers. Therefore, the effects of gamma and electron beam radiation on chemical and nutritional composition of fresh samples of Agaricus bisporus Portobello (a highly commercialized species) were assessed. Mushrooms were irradiated at 1, 2 or 5 kGy, and analyzed at different times (0, 4 and 8 days). In general, irradiation type had higher effect than irradiation dose. Gamma irradiation was associated with higher contents in sugars and ergosterol, while the 5 kGy dose, independently of irradiation source, was linked with higher protein levels. Nonetheless, irradiation might represent an effective preservation methodology for Portobello mushrooms, as it was effective in maintaining their chemical profiles (except for minor organic acids and saturated fatty acids) throughout the assayed time intervals.
Keywords: Chemical characterization; Electron beam irradiation; Ergosterol; Gamma irradiation; Portobello mushrooms.
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