This research examined how bacterial communities in growing material change during the cultivation of the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum. The study found that bacterial populations shift significantly as the mushroom grows, particularly during its elongation stage. Understanding these changes could help improve commercial cultivation of this valuable medicinal fungus. Impacts on everyday life: • Better cultivation methods for medicinal mushrooms could make them more available and affordable • Improved understanding of microbial interactions could lead to more sustainable agricultural practices • More efficient production of natural health products containing beneficial compounds • Enhanced knowledge of how microorganisms work together in agricultural systems • Potential for developing new approaches to growing other valuable mushroom species