Novel Uses of Mushrooms in Foods and Nutraceuticals

Dr. Yugal Kishore Mohanta is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Biology, School of Biological Sciences at the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM). His current research is green nanoparticles and its potential application in food and biomedicine. He earned his PhD in Life Sciences from North Orissa University, Baripada. He has also successfully completed the BCIL industrial training programme on Plant Tissue Culture sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology. Among other academic/research achievements, he was awarded as visiting research scholar at Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Belgium sponsored by KU Leuven. He has more than ten years research experience on natural products chemistry and nanobiotechnology. He has published in peer-reviewed SCI-indexed journals like BMC Plant Biology, Frontiers in Microbiology, Molecules, Frontiers on Plant science, Frontiers in molecular biosciences Nanobiotechnology, and Materials Focus. He has also contributed 11 book chapters and edited a book. Dr. Nath graduated in Process & Food Engineering from Central Agricultural University Imphal, India. He completed his master’s from Assam University Silchar, India, and PhD from the National Institute of Technology Agartala, India. Presently, Dr. Nath has been working as an Assistant Professor at Department of Bioengineering, Techno India University, Tripura, India since 2024 . He has more than 6 years of research experience in the area of process development for value-added products from waste, formulation development and quality analysis of food products, production of bio-products using the Algal platform, and reaction engineering aspects on biodegradation studies at various reactors. He is the author of more than 30 research publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, 25 book chapters, 2 patents, and 4 conference proceedings. Dr Ramesh Namdeo Pudake is an Assistant Professor in Amity University Uttar Pradesh, India. Dr Pudake received his PhD from China Agricultural University, Beijing, China, and after his PhD he engaged in research in a range of topics in biotechnology. He has also worked in the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University Ames, IA, USA on functional genomics. Currently he is focusing on the research of different nanotechnology applications in agriculture. Dr Pudake has published several book chapters and articles in prominent Journals. Chev. Prof. Renald Blundell graduated BSc in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Malta in 1994. In 1998 he attained an M. Phil in Molecular Genetics and in 2002 he successfully defended his PhD in Molecular and Cellular Pathology at the University of Edinburgh. Chev. Prof. Blundell has been lecturing at the University of Malta on full-time basis since 1995.Chev. Prof. Blundell has also participated in various training courses at the Universities of Zaragoza, Padova, and Genoa. He has also represented Malta at the European Commission on the European Consumers Consultative Group in Brussels between 2010 and 2013.Chev. Prof. Blundell is an editorial board member of various international journals. He has published over 111 peer-reviewed articles in international journals, has published ten books, and over ninety articles in local newspapers. He is the author of the first Maltese book on natural medicine entitled DNA, Celloli Staminali u Kura b'Mod Naturali. Chev. Prof. Blundell is also a scientific court expert. Chev. Prof. Blundell is a Member of the European Society of Human Genetics and of the Society of Biology, London. He is also a Chartered Biologist, a European Professional Biologist, a Member of the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland, as well as a Member of the Institute of Biomedical Science, London, UK. Chev. Prof. Blundell is also a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, London, UK. In 2013 he was elected as the Grand Prior of the Grand Priory of Gozo within the Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem. In 2014, he was elected as the president of the Consumers' Organisation of Malta.

• 1. Introduction to Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms: Global Uses and Environmental Sustainability2. Smart Mushroom Farming: Technology and Automation3. Taxonomy and Biology of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms4. Pathogen and Pest Management in Mushroom Farms5. Mushroom-Based Functional Foods: Product Development and Market Trends6. Mushroom-Derived Proteins: Innovations in Plant-Based Nutrition and Food Security7. Genomics and Molecular Breeding of Cultivated Mushrooms8. Bioprospecting Mushrooms for Industrial Enzymes and their Applications9. Biocontrol Potential of Mushrooms: Toward Chemical-Free Farming10. Biocolorants from Mushrooms: Environmental Benefits and Industrial Potential11. Spent Mushroom Substrate: Utilization and Circular Economy12. Mushrooms in Meat Analogues: Functional Properties and Future Directions13. Edible Mushrooms in Biodegradable Packaging: A Green Alternative to Plastics14. Bioactive Compounds in Edible Mushrooms: Nutraceutical Potential and Functional Food Applications15. Mushroom-Derived Prebiotics and Probiotics: Impact on Gut Microbiota and Health16. Biotransformation of Mushroom Residues into High-Value Products17. Life Cycle Assessment and Cost-benefit Analysis of Mushroom Production18. Policy, Standards, and Global Trade in Mushroom Industry