Physiological and biochemical investigations for the cultivation of lentinus squarrosulus (MONT.) Singer

Abstract

Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer is widely accepted edible mushroom species throughout equatorial Africa, South-East Asia, the Pacific Island, Australia, Bhutan and India. Besides its acceptability in food, L. squarrosulus possesses nutraceutical properties which draw the attention of the scientists. In view of its importance in human welfare work on the taxonomy, physiological and biochemical aspects with particular reference to nutritional composition and presence of lectins in the mushroom mycelium and their utility in haemagglutination activity and sugar specificity studies was undertaken on an indigenous culture of L. squarrosulus raised on Potato Dextrose Agar from the wild specimen collected from Kotla Barog in Sirmour District of Himachal Pradesh during July, 2006. Its cultural characteristics were evaluated on fifteen solid and equal number of liquid media out of which Yeast Extract Agar (YEA) and Yeast Glucose (YG) turned out to be the most suitable. Temperature at 301C, pH 4.0 and darkness supported maximum vegetative growth when incubated for 13 days. Substitution of Fructose for Glucose as carbon source and DL-Leucine as a substitute for nitrogen in place of yeast in Yeast Glucose medium supported maximum mycelial growth. Nicotinic acid, Gibberellic acid and Manganese in specific concentrations along with selected vitamins, growth regulators and trace elementsproved to be good supplement in the culture media which favoured good growth of vegetative mycelium.