Enhancement of mycelial growth and polysaccharide production in Ganoderma lucidum (the Chinese medicinal fungus, `Lingzhi') by the addition of ethanol
Methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol and 2-propanol, at 1.5% (v/v), enhanced the growth and polysaccharide production of Ganoderma lucidum. Ethanol was the most effective at 1.5% (v/v) for increasing the biomass production, however, the maximal polysaccharide concentration was produced with 2% (v/v) ethanol in the medium. There was no new polysaccharide component produced by the addition of ethanol.
Enhancement of polysaccharides production in Ganoderma lucidum by the addition of ethyl acetate extracts from Eupolyphaga sinensis and Catharsius molossus
To screen stimulators from Chinese medicinal insects for mycelial growth and polysaccharides production of Ganoderma lucidum, G. lucidum was inoculated into the media with and without supplementation of medicinal insect extracts. The ethyl acetate extract of Eupolyphaga sinensis at 55 mg l−1 lead to significant increase in both biomass and intracellular polysaccharides (IPS) concentration from 8.53 ± 0.41 to 14.16 ± 0.43 and 1.28 ± 0.09 to 2.13 ± 0.11 g l−1, respectively. In addition, the ethyl acetate extract of Catharsius molossus at 55 mg l−1 significantly enhanced extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) production; the EPS yield increased from 350.9 ± 14.1 to 475.1 ± 15.3 mg l−1. There were no new components in the two types of polysaccharides obtained by the addition of the insect extracts.
FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF ECTOMYCORRHIZAL FUNGI IN VITRO
Mycelia of five ectomycorrhizal fungi-Hebeloma sarcophyllum, H. crustuliniforme, Suillus cothurnatus, Pisolithus tinctorius, and Cenococcum graniforme-growing in vitro were analyzed for fatty acid composition by GLC and TLC methods. The major fatty acid in each fungus was a di-unsaturated 18-carbon acid; 16: 0 and 18: 0 fatty acids were also present in each fungus; and an 18: 1 fatty acid was detected in all fungi except S. cothurnatus.