Abstract: A method of controlling toxic fungal diseases in mushrooms is provided which comprises adding an effective fungal-disease-inhibiting amount of a compound of the formula ##STR1## to a substrate in which mushrooms are growing or are to be grown, wherein R represents --CH.sub.2 OH or --CHO; n is an integer from 0 to 3; and each R.sup.1 independently represents halogen, OH, NH.sub.2, or an organic substituent containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and from 0 to 5 heteroatoms, wherein the total number of carbon and heteroatoms in all R.sup.1 substituents is no more than 15.

Abstract: A process of preparing a mushroom growth medium from a cellulosic material is provided in which the cellulosic material used in the solid-state fermentation process is chemically ammoniated. The chemical ammoniation step reduces composting time, particularly preconditioning time, while providing a compost and a mushroom bed material comparable to that achieved by commercial composting processes, which do not use ammoniated straw.

Abstract: A mushroom growth enhancer is provided consisting of a cracked soybean product in combination with a preservative agent. The cracked soybean product is size-adjusted to -10+30 U.S. standard mesh and dehulled. The dehulled, size-adjusted product is then combined with a preservative agent. The resulting combination is pasteurized at 220.degree. F. for 5 minutes. After pasteurization, excess water is evaporated to prevent spoilage by microorganisms not destroyed during pasteurization. After water evaporization, the resulting product is rapidly cooled. Rapid cooling prevents denaturation of the soybean protein. Because the present invention consists of a substantially undenatured protein product, the use of adversely high temperature conditions and harmful chemical denaturants is not required.