Cloning and Expression Analysis of Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase Gene in the Mycelium and Fruit Body of the Edible Mushroom Flammulina velutipes

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) gene is known to be expressed in plants, and is involved in the differentiation, growth and synthesis of secondary metabolites. However, its expression in fungi remains to be explored. To understand its expression in mushroom fungi, the PAL gene of the edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes (Fvpal) was cloned and characterized. The cloned Fvpal consists of 2,175 bp, coding for a polypeptide containing 724 amino acids and having 11 introns. The translated amino acid sequence of Fvpal shares a high identity (66%) with that of ectomycorrhizal fungus Tricholoma matsutake. Distinctively, the Fvpal expression in the mycelium was higher in minimal medium supplemented with L-tyrosine than with other aromatic amino acids. During cultivation of the mushroom on sawdust medium, Fvpal expression in the fruit body correspondingly increased as the mushroom grew. In the fruiting body, Fvpal was expressed more in the stipe than in the pileus. These results suggest that F. velutipes PAL activity differs in the different organs of the mushroom. Overall, this is first report to show that the PAL gene expression is associated with mushroom growth in fungi.

Enhancement of beta-Glucan Content in the Cultivation of Cauliflower Mushroom (Sparassis latifolia) by Elicitation

The effectiveness of three kinds of enzymes (chitinase, beta-glucuronidase, and lysing enzyme complex), employed as elicitors to enhance the beta-glucan content in the sawdust-based cultivation of cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis latifolia), was examined. The elicitors were applied to the cauliflower mushroom after primordium formation, by spraying the enzyme solutions at three different levels on the sawdust-based medium. Mycelial growth was fully accomplished by the treatments, but the metabolic process during the growth of fruiting bodies was affected. The application of a lysing enzyme resulted in an increase in the beta-glucan concentration by up to 31% compared to that of the control. However, the treatment resulted in a decrease in mushroom yield, which necessitated the need to evaluate its economic efficiency. Although we still need to develop a more efficient way for using elicitors to enhance functional metabolites in mushroom cultivation, the results indicate that the elicitation technique can be applied in the cultivation of medicinal/edible mushrooms.

Fruit Body Formation on Silkworm by Cordyceps militaris

Injection inoculation protocols for fruit body formation of Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) were investigated to improve the incidence of infection in the silkworm species Bombyx mori (B. mori). Injection, with suspensions of C. militaris hyphal bodies into living silkworm pupae, was used to test for fruit body production. Use of Daeseungjam rather than Baegokjam or Keumokjam varieties of B. mori is thought to be suitable for infection by C. militaris. From mounting, nine-day-old to 11-day-old pupae showed the best incidence of infection with a 100 microL injection volume. Silkworm pupae injected with a hyphal suspension concentration of more than 2 x 105 colony-forming unit (cfu) recorded a greater than 96% incidence of infection. Also, fruit bodies of C. militaris were induced and produced at a light intensity between 500 and 1,000 lx.

Production of Polysaccharide by the Edible Mushroom, Grifola frondosa

The production of polysaccharide according to various developmental stages (mycelium growth, primordium appearance, and fruiting-body formation) in the edible mushroom Grifola frondosa was studied. The cap of the mature mushroom showed the highest amount of polysacchride. Mycelial growth and polysaccharide synthesis were optimal at pH 5 and 20degrees C. Polysaccharide synthesis was maximal after 12 days of cultivation, whereas maximum mycelial growth was shown after 18 days. Mannose, cellobiose and starch increased the level of polysaccharide as well as growth in submerged culture. Glucose and sucrose appeared to be good substrates for fruiting of Grifola frondosa.

Enzyme Activities of the Fruit Body of Ramaria botrytis DGUM 29001

The fruit body of Ramaria botrytis DGUM 29001 was used to determine enzyme activities of fruit body. The specific activity of laccase was the highest(6.5 unit/mg.protein) and that of alpha-amylase and xylanase was relatively high. However, little or no enzyme activity of beta-glucosidase, CMCase, exo-beta-1,4-glucanase, chitinase, lipase and protease was found.

Preliminary study of rare-earth elements on the growth of Ganodema lucidum / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE：Rare-earth compound was added to the medium of Ganoderma lucidum to study the effect of rare-earth elements on the hypha growth,the fresh and dry weight of fruit body of G.lucidum.METHODS:The culture medium dressed with rare-earth elements.RESULTS:It showed that all concentrations of rare-earth elements had some inhibition on the hypha growth of G.lucidum.However they could make the hypha of G.lucidumwhiter.The fresh and dry weight of fruit body increased significantly when the concentrations of rare-earth elements were 100μg.g-1 and 150μg.g-1.Their raising rates were +4.13%，+0.20% and +16.47，+5.84%respectively.CONCLUSION:The yield of G.lucidum can be increased by rare-earth elements when its concentrations were 100～150μg.g-1.