Researchers at Iwate University in northern Japan have found that some mushrooms more than double their yields when jolted by electricity.
This could lead to some novel experiments in mushroom houses up and down the country.
The fungi reacted best when exposed to between 50,000 and 100,000 volts for one ten-millionth of a second. Getting the equipment together to administer those types of shocks to the poor wee mushrooms may be a step too far though.
As to why the shocks work – scientist hypothesize that it creates a reproductive boost in response to danger.
Initially, the mushrooms are damaged by the electrical bursts, but they compensate quickly by increasing protein and enzyme secretion.
