Browning and Color Characteristics in Mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) As Influenced by Ionizing Energy

Browning and color characteristics of stored mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus)following ionizing irradiation were investigated in connection with quality deterioration. The phenolic compounds of stored mushrooms showed a gradual decreasing tendency, while extractable browning pigments apparently rose from around 3days of storage under the conditions of RH and packaging with a corrugated paper box wrapped up in PE. at 2 to 3 kGy resulted in a significant reduction of their changes. Immediately after treatment, irradiated mushrooms were more discolored, i.e. a lower Hunter L value and higher Hunter a and b values than control. However, the subsequent storage for 15 days resulted in a preventive influence of ionizing energy on mushroom discoloration. This beneficial effect of ionizing energy was somewhat higher in the pilei than in the stipes of mushrooms and was found to increase lineally with increasing doses up to 3 kGy.