Are you scientifically prepared for the new mushroom-picking season?

Mushrooms – a fragrant forest treasure for some, a fascinating object of study for others. In this case, the connection between nature and science is entirely natural. What can you discover about a simple mushroom under a microscope or using chromatography? And how helpful is a scientific education when it comes to everyday mushroom hunting? 

We asked RNDr. Roman Kysilka, CSc., who worked as a research specialist at the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences and now works at Watrex Prague. He walked us through not only his career, but also through the forest – both scientific and real. 

Watrex Fig.1: RNDr. Roman Kysilka, CSc.

When and why did you decide to study natural sciences? Were you drawn to them as a child?

I got a chemistry experiment kit, I think it was called "Curious Chemist," around seventh grade, and I was immediately captivated by home experiments. I was also into electricity and experimented with that as well. In my early years of high school, I was still considering studying electrical engineering or chemistry. But chemistry won out, largely thanks to the chemistry olympiads I took part in regularly from elementary school. Through national competitions (later in high school), I met a lot of chemistry enthusiasts. And during training camps for the international olympiad, I got to know chemists from the Faculty of Science at Charles University – and that sealed the deal.

How did you first get into studying mushrooms? Was it by chance or intentional?

It was a coincidence. I did grow champignons when I was around twelve, but that had nothing to do with research – I was mostly curious about what my mom would cook with them. Between 1982 and 1984, I was working on my thesis, and my advisor, Prof. Karel Štulík, arranged for me to work in a chromatography lab in the Department of Experimental Mycology at the Institute of Microbiology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. And that’s where I first encountered mushrooms as a subject of scientific research. 

What fascinated you most about mushrooms? 

Mushrooms have been with humankind since ancient times. You might recall the phrase “mushrooms – meat of the poor.” The Aztecs used the word teonanácatl, which roughly translates as “meat of the gods” (later found to refer to mushrooms with psychoactive effects). Meat for both the poor and the gods – interesting, right? The diverse world of fungi – heterotrophic organisms with a vital role in nature – fascinated me from the start. And of course, there’s also the unexpected potential of the compounds mushrooms produce. Every year, hundreds of new, previously unknown chemical compounds – secondary metabolites – are isolated and described in scientific literature, with potential uses in medicine and other fields. You could say the world of fungi is still largely unexplored from a chemical standpoint. 

You worked at the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences from 1985–1991 – what exactly did you do there? 

After returning from military service, I went back to the Institute of Microbiology, where I focused on research into psychoactive tryptamine derivatives in basidiomycetes for my dissertation. The list of substances later narrowed to psilocybin, psilocin, baeocystin, and bufotenin. I worked on developing analytical methods to detect these compounds in fruiting bodies and mycelium, designing chromatographic methods for semi-preparative scale isolation, conducting cultivation experiments with various Psilocybe species in the lab, and screening potentially psychoactive mushrooms for these compounds. 

Do you recall a moment or discovery that left a strong impression on you? 

Yes. Part of the research on magic mushrooms included experimental poisonings. In the late 1980s, together with Marta Semerdžieva, we completed (and later patented) a method for producing mushroom mycelium via submerged cultivation. We planned an intoxication experiment using this rather unappealing material. Based on HPLC analysis, we cooked a “mushroom” soup and began the experiment. However, the outcome was very different from what we expected – it was clear we had significantly overdosed the test subjects. That prompted a detailed review of the analytical method used to determine psilocybin and psilocin levels. We found that the critical step for accurate results was the sample preparation before HPLC analysis. With optimized extraction, we detected concentrations of active compounds several times higher than with previously published methods. Our article in Planta Medica is still cited today and occasionally discussed in forums about psychoactive substances. 

What techniques were you using then – and what surprises you most about modern lab methods? 

Our main analytical technique was HPLC. Mass spectrometry, which is standard today, was just a dream back then. The peak was using a UV-VIS diode-array detector or selective and sensitive amperometric detection. I find the current development of lab automation, the explosive growth of computing and mathematical modeling, and more recently, the use of artificial intelligence truly remarkable.

How did you transition from academia to Watrex Prague? What attracted you to the change?

In the early '90s, research projects at the Institute of Microbiology were being reorganized, and several colleagues I worked with left the institute. Around the same time, I got a job offer from Milan Minárik, who was founding Watrex – a distributor for Waters chromatography systems. I had met Milan a few years earlier (through HPLC, of course), and the idea of working as an applications specialist in his private company was very appealing. It was a time of rapid private sector growth in Czechoslovakia, and I was excited to be a part of that. 

You’ve studied mushrooms scientifically, but what about in the actual forest? Are you a mushroom picker?

I love picking mushrooms (their fruiting bodies), but I don’t have as much time for it as I’d like. 

How much do you rely on your scientific knowledge when mushroom picking? Do you see mushrooms differently than the average picker? 

Rather than scientific knowledge, I rely on experience from field excursions with the Institute of Microbiology, where I had the chance to learn mushroom identification from leading Czech mycologists. And unlike “typical pickers,” I often collect gilled mushrooms. My three-year-old granddaughter Anička might actually be able to name more bolete species than I can.

Does your knowledge of chemistry help with identifying lesser-known species?

No. 

Do you have a favorite mushroom – either for eating or just because it’s interesting? 

Aside from magic mushrooms, I have a soft spot for the fly agaric. Amanita muscaria, with its unmistakable red cap and white spots, has a rich and ancient history. Its story intersects with folk medicine and shamanism across many cultures, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. Another mushroom worth mentioning is the deadly Cortinarius orellanus. It grows in our region and can unfortunately be confused with some edible species. It contains the nephrotoxin orellanine, which is dangerous due to its delayed onset – symptoms can appear up to three weeks after ingestion, which makes treating the poisoning extremely difficult. 

Watrex Fig.2: Illustrative photo of Amanita muscaria and Cortinarius orellanus

What can we learn about a mushroom in a laboratory — apart from whether it’s edible or not? 

A mushroom, as a subject of laboratory study, can be analyzed taxonomically; we can identify substances that are toxicologically significant, search for new biologically active compounds, or use fungi as model organisms in genetic research. Their bioaccumulation capacity can help monitor unwanted substances in the environment. And I’m sure there are many other possibilities for scientific investigation in the lab. 

Have you ever examined the presence of toxins, heavy metals, or pesticides? How common are they in mushrooms? 

The ability of mushrooms to accumulate foreign substances is well documented and stems from the way they absorb nutrients from their surroundings. Their mycelium has a huge surface area and absorbs not only nutrients from the soil solution, but also unwanted substances, which may then accumulate in the fruiting bodies. I personally haven’t focused on bioaccumulation research in fungi — with one exception. After the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, we collected various mushroom species to monitor levels of Cesium-137. 

What’s your opinion on identifying mushrooms using mobile apps? 

If a mobile app serves as a replacement for a quality, well-illustrated mushroom atlas, I have no objections. However, I’d be very cautious when using various "identification keys." An amateur can easily overlook or misinterpret an important feature that differentiates an edible mushroom from an inedible or even poisonous one. That said, with the advancement of AI, things will surely improve :). As always — only collect mushrooms you can identify with absolute confidence! 

What’s something every mushroom hunter should know — but often overlooks?

Where north is — and how to get back to the train station or their parked car.

Besides a knife, is there anything else you’d bring in your mushroom basket? 

A camera. Mushrooms are incredibly photogenic. And if one doesn't end up in the basket, it can at least become a model for photography. 

And finally: If you had to describe mushrooms in one word, what would it be?

Saprophytes. Without them, life on our planet would come to a halt. 

Many thanks to Roman Kysilka for such an open and inspiring conversation. It was a pleasure to explore his professional journey and the unique experiences that have shaped it. Roman currently works at Watrex Praha, where his expertise and experience continue to make a valuable impact. We wish him all the best in his future professional and personal endeavors!