A simple method for culture conservation of some commercial mushrooms

[摘要] The main objective of culture preservation is to store cultures in viable and stable form for long periods without losing genotypic, phenotypic and physiological traits (Chang & Miles, 2004). The most common method of short-term storage of mushroom culture is storing the culture tubes at room temperature (28–35ºC) for a period of 1–2 months or in refrigerator (5–8ºC) for an average period of 3–4 months. This method necessitates frequent sub culturing leading to the problems of contamination and degeneration. The objective of the present study was to develop an inexpensive and simple method to preserve mushroom cultures in a viable state for an extended period. The possibility of storing various mushroom cultures on sorghum (Jowar) grain at low temperature (5–8ºC in refrigerator) was explored. The result clearly showed that the mushroom cultures could safely be stored at low temperatures on sorghum grain free from contamination for more than one year without any growth and morphological changes. The most significant advantage of this method was its suitability to conserve milky mushroom (Calocybe indica) and some isolates of reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) cultures, which cannot be stored at low temperatures.

[学科分类] 植物学

[关键词] Basidiomycete;Calocybe indica;Ganoderma;grain;preservation