Enhancement of Vitamin D 2 Content in Pleurotus Mushrooms Using Pulsed Light

Pulsed light is a rapid technology to convert ergosterol to vitamin D 2 in mushrooms. Five P leurotus mushrooms were used to study vitamin D 2 generation using pulsed light, and the pulsed distances and pulses were also evaluated. In the different genera of P leurotus mushrooms, P . ferulae produced the highest vitamin D 2 content. The short pulsed distance (2.5 cm) and long pulsed time treatment (120 pulses) cause the reduction in the vitamin D 2 content and discoloration in P . ferulae powder. Moreover, P . ferulae treated for 60 pulses at 5 cm was the optimal condition for vitamin D 2 conversion (65.4 μg/g DW ). The losses of vitamin D 2 contents after 60 days of storage at 4 and 25 C were 28.9 and 37.7%, respectively. Overall, irradiated P . ferulae would be a good source of vitamin D 2 and pulsed light can be used to prepare mushrooms with high vitamin D 2 content as a nutrient supplement. Practical Applications Pulsed light is showed to be a rapid technology for vitamin D 2 conversion in mushrooms. This technology enhances the vitamin D 2 content not only in fresh P leurotus mushrooms but also in powdered P leurotus mushrooms. Pulsed light irradiated mushroom powder is a good source of vitamin D 2 and considered a nutrient supplement.