Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1995

mushroom is able to grow, and to improve yields. Major Applications of Research Findings Research findings are expected to facilitate the design of programmes for improving strain selection using modem molecular biological and genetic engineering techniques. The long-term value and significance of the research lies in the potential to improve the bioconversion of the organic substrate by different mushrooms, thereby increasing biological efficiency and improving mushroom yield. In addition, the knowledge gained will be of relevance to the cultivation of other mushrooms, in particular those that are currently being used as sources of pharmaceutically useful metabolites and food additives. The digestibility of lignocellulosic materials such as cereal straws is directly related to their lignin contents. Improved fungal growth on lignocellulosic waste in a manner that removes selectively the lignin content may also make it feasible to use spent mushroom compost as a superior animal feed. Furthermore, the spent compost will still contain the enzymes produced by the mushrooms for lignin degradation. Since some of these enzymes have been found to be effective in breaking down pollutants such as DDT and various chemical dyes, the spent compost may also have potential for use in bioremediation systems. In overall practical terms, a better understanding of the processes involved in the bioconversion of organic wastes by edible fungi has far-reaching economic, social and environmental implications. D r. John Buswell receivedhis Ph.D. f r omthe U n i v e r s i t yofB i r m i n g h a m , U K. Hejoined CUHK as lecturer in biology in 1990andwas promoted to senior lecturer i n 1993. In a d d i t i o n to the e n z y m o l o g y of e d i b l e mushrooms and b i o- conversion t e c h n o l o g y , D r. B u s w e l l ' s research interests also includef i sh andfoodm i c r o b i o l o g y . D r. Buswell is c u r r e n t l y director of the Research Laboratoryf or FoodScience, anddeputy director of the Centre f or I n t e r n a t i o n a l Services to Mushroom Biotechnology. P r o f . Shu-ting Chang received hisPh.D.f r om the U n i v e r s i t y of Wisconsin, and has taught at the Departmentof BiologyofCUHKf or over30 years, s e r v i ng as its chairman f or many t e r m s . An i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y - r e c o g n i z e d a u t h o r i t y on mush- rooms, he was awarded an OBE i n 1994 i n r e c o g n i t i o nof hisc o n t r i b u t i o n s to studies i n the b i o l o g y and c u l t i v a t i o n fedible mushrooms. P r o f . Changisc u r r e n t l y director of Hong Kong M i c r o b i o l o g i c a l Resources Centre ( u n d e r the aegis of U N E S C O ) , and of the Centre f or I n t e r n a t i o n a l Services to M u s h r o o m B i o t e c h n o l o g y (under the aegis of the United Nations I n d u s t r i a l Development O r g a n i z a t i o n ) . D r. Buswell( l e f t ) andP r o f . Chang( r i g h t ) engaged in the p u r i f i c a t i o n of l i g n o c e l l u l o l y t i c enzymesby fast-protein liquid chromatography. Research 18