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Abstract: Previous research has demonstrated the effectiveness of adding calcium chloride to the irrigation water to improve initial whiteness of mushrooms and reduce postharvest browning. Addition of sodium selenite to irrigation water has also been shown to increase mushroom resistance to postharvest browning as well as enhancing the nutritional value of mushrooms. Thus, this study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of adding selenium and calcium to mushrooms, individually and in combination, on important quality attributes of fresh and canned mushrooms. Mushroom crops were treated as follows: selenium added to irrigation water from casing to pinning, calcium added to irrigation water from pinning through the third flush, a combination of selenium and calcium as described above and tap water (control). Mushrooms were harvested on peak production days for the first three flushes for each of the three experimental crops. Production and quality attributes examined included: crop yield, initial and storage whiteness, solids content, canned product yield and selenium and calcium content of fresh and canned mushrooms. Addition of calcium, selenium and the combination of both all resulted in reduced postharvest browning. When calcium and selenium were added together, selenium content was increased about 13-fold and calcium content by 2-fold compared to controls and the mushrooms were whiter than those grown with either calcium or selenium added alone. Also, when calcium or selenium was added individually, several attributes exhibited negative trends. For example, the calcium treatment slightly reduced crop yield while the selenium treatment decreased solids content and canned product yield. However, when calcium and selenium were both added, all these negative trends were reversed. From the results of this study it was concluded that the addition of both calcium and selenium to mushrooms via the irrigation water is a cost-effective and safe means to improve mushroom quality and nutritional value. These calcium and selenium-rich mushrooms may also increase consumer demand and open new market niches for mushroom growers by providing a nutritional identity for mushrooms and creating a value-added product.
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