STUDIES ON GENETIC VARIABILITY IN Ganoderma lucidum CURTI SP KARST FOR IDENTIFICATION OF ELITE STRAINS

Abstract

newline ABSTRACT newlineGanoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst. is one of the most popular mushrooms in oriental medicine. Fruit bodies of G. lucidum have been regarded as a panacea for all type of diseases. It produces several metabolites such as polysaccharides and triterpenoids, which are responsible for its medicinal properties. The present investigations were conducted owing to its commercial medicinal importance and lack of study on potential of locally growing wild isolates for their domestication under in vitro conditions. The different isolates were collected, cultured and identified on the basis of basidiocarp and basidiospore morphology. Average mycelial growth/day was found to vary from 1.7-8.7mm/day. Malt extract medium and temperature range of 25-35and#730;C were conducive for the mycelial growth of G. lucidum. ISSR and combined RAPD and ISSR markers showed clustering of isolates on the basis of geographical origin and location of isolates. Triterpenoids, polysaccharides and proteins were estimated in vigorously growing isolates and highest quantity was found in isolate GL18. Cultivation studies on isolate GL18, GL29 and strain OE-53 of G. lucidum were conducted using different substrate combinations. Oei sawdust supplemented with 20 per cent Wheat bran supported vigorous and complete spawn run among all the substrate combinations and was also found to be best in terms of primordial initiation, number of primordia, fruit body expansion and development, yield and biological efficiency. Among all the isolates GL18 gave maximum yield and biological efficiency on all substrates and their combinations. The findings of present studies reveal that cultivation of most efficient isolate (GL18) on Oei sawdust supplemented with wheat bran (20%) can be exploited on commercial scale by the mushroom growers, entrepreneurs and pharmaceutical industry newline