Biochemical Induction of Fruiting in Schizophyllum: Isolation and Preliminary Purification of an Inducing Substance from Agaricus bisporus Mushrooms.

A diffusible substance was isolated from Agaricus bisporus mushrooms that induced haploid fruiting body formation in Schizophyllum commune. An efficient isolation procedure was developed. The fruiting-inducing substance was shown to be present in all stages of Agaricus mushroom development and there was no preferential accumulation of the activity in gill, cap, or stipe tissues. Some chemical and physical properties of the inducing factor are described.