Studies on Spawn Production Technology of Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Hericium Sp.)

Abstract

Mushrooms are delicious, nutritionally rich, medicinally important and nonconventional sources of human food. Medicinal mushrooms and fungi are thought to possess approximately 130 medicinal functions. Lion’s Mane mushroom has certain bioactive compounds such as Hericiones A and Hericiones B which have antitumor, immunomodulating, antioxidant, cardiovascular, anti- hypercholesterolemic, antiviral, antibacterial, hepatoprotective and antidiabetic effects. Lion mane ‘s mushroom is found throughout the northern hemisphere in Europe, Asia and North America. The present investigations were carried out on “Studies of spawn production technology of Lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium sp.)”. The results of present investigation on Lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium sp.) on two strains (He-02 and He-04) showed that the colonies are generally white in colour with central core of branching strands which with maturity become creamy white in color. The fruiting body of Lion’s mane mushroom are oval or spherical in shape compact, branched mass with many long spines hanging down, strands which branch to form a tree like pattern The color of the fruiting body ranges with white in the initial stage to creamy yellow at the time of maturity. Regarding the different media evaluated, maximum mycelial growth was seen in Potato sucrose agar media in both the strain He-02 and He-04. Among the different 129 inorganic sources supplemented on Potato dextrose agar media, The dry mycelial weight of both the strains was maximum on Potato sucrose media. In case of different inorganic sources supplemented on Potato dextrose agar media, maximum mycelial growth was seen in MgSO4 @ 2.5% in both the strain He- 02 and He-04, The dry mycelial weight of both the strains was maximum on MgSO4 @ 2.5%.In spawn production, regarding different pulses flour additives, maximum spawn production was seen in Wheat + Pigeon pea flour @ 3% in strain He-02 and He-04. Regarding different cereals flour additive, maximum spawn growth was seen in Rice flour @ 3% in strain He-02 and He-04. In case of inorganic sources, maximum spawn growth was seen in Wheat + MgSO4 @ 2.5%.