Psilocybe mushrooms produce psilocybin, which is converted to the psychoactive compound psilocin. Using metabolomics, a technique that profiles chemical fingerprints, the study shows that the chemical makeup of Psilocybe differs across mycelia, grain mycelia, and fruiting bodies. Fruiting bodies preferentially accumulate psilocybin, baeocystin, tryptophan, ergothioneine, and phenylethylamine, while mycelia have higher levels of alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine, N-acetylglucosamine, and trimethylglycine. The findings suggest that compounds in Psilocybe mycelia may be worth investigating as potential naturally derived therapeutic targets.
In a pot experiment, inoculating pearl millet with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) alongside microdoses of mineral fertilizer and organic manure improved plant growth and nutrient uptake compared to no fertilizer. The highest biomass came from AMF and organic manure treatments. Combining AMF with microdosed NPK fertilizer raised nitrogen and calcium concentrations, while AMF with organic matter boosted potassium. Adding AMF to microdosed NPK and compost increased zinc and nickel. Root colonization ranged from 0.55% to 56.4%. The findings indicate that AMF inoculation can enhance nutrient efficiency under microdosing fertilization, offering a partial alternative to full mineral fertilizer use in low-fertility Sahel soils.