A b s t r a c t. The results of some tests to detach mushrooms from their mycelium by the application of torque are presented. Upper thresholds for torque and angle of twist in detaching mushrooms may be defined. A series of compression tests on segments of white mushroom cap tissue was also carried out. Tissue was found to be significantly stiffer when measured perpendicular to the stem axis, than parallel to it. A positive correlation was found between stiffness and density, the latter varying markedly from cap to cap. No obvious correlation was found between stiffness and moisture content.