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Effect of Strain, Wood Substrate and Cold Treatment on the Yield and β-Glucan Content of Ganoderma lucidum Fruiting Bodies

Summary

Researchers successfully cultivated a medicinal mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) using leftover wood from sawmills and plywood factories. By testing different wood types and mushroom strains with cold treatments, they found that poplar wood combined with a specific mushroom strain produced the highest levels of β-glucan, a beneficial compound used in pharmaceuticals and food products. This approach transforms industrial waste into valuable medicinal mushrooms, supporting a circular economy.

Background

Wood residues from forestry and plywood industries represent abundant underutilized resources in Northern Europe. Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal mushroom with bioactive compounds, particularly β-glucan polysaccharides, that has potential for commercial cultivation using these wood side streams.

Objective

To evaluate the suitability of various wood residues (sawdust and chips from Betula spp., Populus tremula, Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris, and Larix sp.) for cultivating boreal forest strains of Ganoderma lucidum and to optimize yield and β-glucan content through strain selection and cold treatment protocols.

Results

The MUS192 strain combined with Betula spp. or P. tremula substrates produced the highest fruiting body yields (51.3-59.8 g per bag). Cold treatment at 5°C significantly increased fruiting success compared to −20°C. P. tremula substrate yielded the highest β-glucan content (55.8%), with overall β-glucan content ranging from 47.5-55.9 g/100g dry matter.

Conclusion

P. tremula wood residues combined with the MUS192 strain is recommended for optimal fruiting body yield and β-glucan production. A 5°C cold treatment is essential for inducing fruiting in boreal forest G. lucidum strains. This study demonstrates the viability of utilizing wood side streams for high-value medicinal mushroom cultivation in a circular economy framework.
  • Published in:Molecules,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 33076396, DOI: 10.3390/molecules25204732
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