Journal
JOURNAL OF FUNGI
Volume 7, Issue 11, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/jof7110986
Keywords
Cordyceps militaris; Ophiocordyceps sinensis; functional food; nutraceuticals; medicinal mushroom; cordycepin
Categories
Funding
- European Union (European Social Fund-ESF) [MIS-5033021]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Cordyceps militaris, a fungus with important medicinal properties, has attracted research and commercial interest due to its bioactive compounds and ease of cultivation. However, challenges exist in commercial-scale cultivation, such as strain selection, genetic degeneration, and substrate optimization. Understanding factors influencing biomass and metabolite production, addressing strain degeneration, and developing protocols for functional biology studies are crucial for improving productivity and advancing this promising sector.
Cordyceps militaris is an entomopathogenic ascomycete with similar pharmacological importance to that of the wild caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis. C. militaris has attracted significant research and commercial interest due to its content in bioactive compounds beneficial to human health and the relative ease of cultivation under laboratory conditions. However, room for improvement exists in the commercial-scale cultivation of C. militaris and concerns issues principally related to appropriate strain selection, genetic degeneration of cultures, and substrate optimization. In particular, culture degeneration-usually expressed by abnormal fruit body formation and reduced sporulation-results in important economic losses and is holding back investors and potential growers (mainly in Western countries) from further developing this highly promising sector. In the present review, the main factors that influence the generation of biomass and metabolites (with emphasis on cordycepin biosynthesis) by C. militaris are presented and evaluated in conjunction with the use of a wide range of supplements or additives towards the enhancement of fungal productivity in large-scale cultivation processes. Moreover, physiological and genetic factors that increase or reduce the manifestation of strain degeneration in C. militaris are outlined. Finally, methodologies for developing protocols to be used in C. militaris functional biology studies are discussed.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available