Auricularia auricular could be useful as a candidate for human selenium supplementation. This study examined the effects of exogenous Se on the growth, yield, nutritive value, and mineral accumulation of A. auricular. Selenate or selenite (0.5-40.0 μg g-1) had no effect on mycelium morphology or the yield of fruiting bodies. In some cases, they affected the accumulation of inter-elements and significantly decreased the concentrations of copper, iron, and chromium in the Se-enriched fruiting bodies compared to that with control treatments. The polysaccharide (116.5-131.6 μg g-1) and protein (105.2-113.4 μg g-1) content in Se-enriched fruiting bodies were not significantly different from those observed in the controls (polysaccharide, 114.1 μg g-1; protein, 105.6 μg g-1). Thus, A. auricular can absorb inorganic Se from the substrate and convert it to organic Se compounds (selenocystine (≥4.1%), selenomethionine (≥91.9%), and Se-methylselenocysteine (≥2.3%)).
Keywords: Auricularia auricular; Fruiting bodies; Inter-element; Mycelium; Selenium; Supplementation.
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