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Growth Performance of Ganoderma lucidum Using Billet Method in Garhwal Himalaya, India

Summary

This research studied how to grow the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (also known as Lingzhi or Reishi) using wood logs in two different locations in India. The study found that warmer temperatures led to faster and better mushroom growth. This has important implications for commercial cultivation of this valuable medicinal fungus. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides a practical method for growing medicinal mushrooms at home or small scale • Helps make beneficial medicinal mushrooms more available and affordable • Demonstrates how temperature affects mushroom growing success • Creates potential income opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs • Contributes to more sustainable production of natural medicines

Background

Ganoderma lucidum or Lingzhi is a medicinal mushroom belonging to the Polyporaceae family that has been used in Chinese and Japanese medicine for over 2000 years. It contains over 400 bioactive compounds and has various pharmacological properties including anti-viral, anti-bacterial, immunomodulation and anti-aging effects. Due to increasing global demand and difficulty collecting from the wild, artificial cultivation methods have been developed.

Objective

To assess the growth performance of Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies cultivated using the billet method (short wood log cultivation) at two different locations in Garhwal Himalaya, India – Village Sherpur in Dehradun district and Village Manjgaun in Tehri district.

Results

The cropping cycle was shorter (132-136 days) in Sherpur Village compared to Manjgaun village (141-145 days). In Sherpur, fruiting bodies were harvested at 64-66 days, 100-101 days and 135-136 days during first, second and third flushes respectively. In Manjgaun, harvests occurred at 69-71 days, 107-108 days and 144-145 days. Warmer temperatures in Sherpur resulted in earlier emergence and development of fruiting bodies. Yield decreased in subsequent flushes at both locations.

Conclusion

The growth performance of G. lucidum was primarily temperature dependent, with higher fruiting body development and shorter cropping cycles observed at the warmer study site. The billet method proved to be an effective cultivation technique for this medicinally and economically important mushroom species.
  • Published in:Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences,
  • Study Type:Field Trial,
  • Source: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.03.030
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