More than 9,700 fungal species have been described in the world, though this is estimated to be only 7% of existing species. Even among macrofungi (agaricoid, aphyllophoroid fungi, etc.) that form visible, large fruiting bodies, less than half of the species have been identified. One of the topics in this research division, which focuses on mushrooms, is their taxonomy and diversity analysis. Fungal cultures are also collected as genetic resources. Another focus is the discovery of beneficial mushroom traits and mutations (sporeless mutation, etc.) from mushroom genetic resources and their practical use to develop a molecular breeding system based on mushroom genome information

Basic research is carried out to isolate, culture, and preserve strains of various types of mushrooms that inhabit various regions and substrates. By integrating information about the physiological properties, cultural characteristics, and genetic information of the strains, we aim to construct a high-quality culture collection and its database. Because identifying mushrooms is very difficult for people other than mushroom taxonomy experts, we aim to establish a useful tool for easy identification. We are challenging to develop the TUFC strain database for easy and highly accurate taxonomic identification system that integrates morphological and genetic information.

In this division, we aim to enhance the value of the genetic resources of mushrooms by artificially cultivating the fruiting bodies of a wide variety of useful mushrooms. The research includes screening strains that show a high production of fruiting bodies using various substrates such as grain residues and lignocellulose materials. It also includes increasing the nutritive values and functional components in fruiting bodies by modifying the cultivation substrates. We aim to produce fruiting bodies of mycorrhizal mushrooms by artificially constructing symbiotic associations with hosts. These studies would allow us to stably supply the fruiting bodies of useful mushrooms, leading to the increased use of the genetic resources of mushrooms and the development of novel pharmaceuticals.

Tens of thousands of fungi mushrooms are present on the earth. However, the research related to their functions has focused on only a few of them. Fungi mushrooms are valuable resources that are not yet explored for functional materials and medicines. Muscarine and muscimol from Amanita muscaria are famous poisonous ingredients that are used as medicine. This division was recently organized as a research section to evaluate the functional importance of fungi mushrooms that are held within this center.

The goal of this division is to promote the use of the bioactive compounds (including toxic materials) that exist in various types of fungi and mushrooms in the food and pharmaceutical industries and pesticides. Generally, bioactive compounds are extracted from mycelia, fruit bodies, and culture broth of fungi and mushrooms; purified; and identified using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and other analytical methods. We devise novel methods to rapidly analyze these bioactive compounds. To promote the industrial use of these compounds, we also research preparation methods for safer and more effective compounds than the isolated compounds.