Studying Soil Ecology and Growth Conditions of Phellorinia herculeana, a Wild Edible Mushroom

Phellorinia herculeana is an edible mushroom growing in nutritionally poor and desert soil. There has been little information available about its edaphic and culturing conditions for achieving the vigorous mycelial growth essential for its artificial cultivation, bioaugmentation and biodegradation in unfertile soil. Thus, the present study was conducted to assess its edaphic conditions and find a suitable culturing medium for obtaining maximum growth. It grows commonly in coastal soil with saline conditions, barren land soil unfit for cultivation, and desert soil. It forms a basidiocarp singly around xerophytic trees and annual plants and also in soil without vegetation. In addition to a well-developed pileus and stipe, it has a typical rhizoid that grows horizontally in soil. The rhizoid was thick at the base of the stipe and became thin into the mycelial strand. In our earlier study, we reported that its mycelial growth was very poor on nutrient-rich media containing simple sugar, for example, glucose. In the present study, we observed that cereal-grain-based agar media supported its mycelial growth and among the cereal-grain-based agar media, maize agar medium at the 5% level supported the maximum mycelial growth. Incorporation of glucose into the maize agar medium reduced its mycelial growth compared to its growth on maize agar medium without glucose. Its mycelial growth was at a maximum between 34 degrees C and 37 degrees C and at a pH between 7 and 8. Mass multiplication using sand-maize medium prepared at the ratio of 19:1 (sand: maize) supported the maximum mycelial growth. The results of this study would certainly pave a way for the scientific community to develop a protocol for its artificial cultivation and also for its mass multiplication, bioaugmentation and biodegradation in unfertile soil.

Automated summary

This study assessed the edaphic conditions of Phellorinia herculeana and identified a suitable culturing medium for maximum growth. The mushroom grows in saline coastal soil, barren land soil, and desert soil. Maize agar medium supported the best mycelial growth, and the addition of glucose hindered growth. Optimal mycelial growth was observed at temperatures between 34°C and 37°C, and at a pH between 7 and 8. Sand-maize medium in a ratio of 19:1 (sand:maize) supported maximum mycelial growth. These findings contribute to the development of protocols for artificial cultivation, mass multiplication, bioaugmentation, and biodegradation of Phellorinia herculeana in unfertile soil.