Production of β-Glucans by Pleurotus ostreatus: Cultivation and Genetic Background

Author: mycolabadmin
10/5/2025
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Summary

Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) are increasingly popular edible fungi that can grow on various waste materials like agricultural byproducts and food waste, making them both economical and environmentally friendly. These mushrooms produce valuable health-promoting compounds called β-glucans that have immune-boosting and antioxidant properties. Modern scientific techniques, including genetic analysis and artificial intelligence, are being used to optimize cultivation methods and increase production of these beneficial compounds. This sustainable approach to mushroom farming helps reduce waste while providing nutritious and medicinal food products.

Background

Pleurotus ostreatus is one of the most frequently cultivated mushroom species globally, valued for its rapid growth, high adaptability to various substrates including waste materials, and bioactive compounds such as β-glucans, laccase, and proteoglycans. Understanding the molecular biology of this oyster mushroom is crucial for evaluating its commercial and scientific applications.

Objective

This review summarizes the cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus using waste raw materials, nutritional and medicinal applications, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, and the use of artificial intelligence systems to optimize production. The goal is to provide comprehensive guidance for environmentally friendly cultivation while increasing productivity and quality.

Results

Optimal cultivation requires PDA medium, temperature of 22-28°C, pH of 6-7, CO2 concentration of 0.3%, and spawning rates of 2-4%. P. ostreatus successfully grows on food/agricultural waste, synthetic polymers, and wastewater while producing valuable bioactive compounds. MYB gene family and PoMCA1 genes regulate fruiting body development and stress responses.

Conclusion

P. ostreatus cultivation on waste substrates is economically viable and environmentally sustainable, supporting circular economy principles while maintaining high productivity. Modern molecular tools and artificial intelligence offer promising opportunities to further optimize cultivation processes and enhance β-glucan production for pharmaceutical applications.

Published in:International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
Study Type:Review,
Source: PMC12524856, 41096968, 10.3390/ijms26199703