Macrofungi diversity in Lawu Mountain Forests and their potential uses as medicinal mushroom for inducing immunity against Covid-19

Macrofungi is one of bio-medicinal sources containing various bioactive compounds, such as β-glucans, which are scientifically proven as immunity booster against coronavirus, including Covid-19. Lawu Mountain Forest has been reported as one of the macro fungi-rich ecosystems in Java. Due to its unique geography, each side of the mountain has a different climate with the southern slope is typically more suitable for various species of mushroom to grow. The aims of this study were to assess fungal diversity in the southern slope of Lawu Mountain Forest, and to ascertain their potential uses for medicinal purpose, particularly for boosting immunity against Covid-19. Cruise method was used to identify macroscopic fungi collected along the hiking trail of Lawu Mountain Forest at the elevation ranges of 1800- 3100 m asl. Their morphological characteristics, including color, diameter, veil surface, lamella (ring and pore, type of lamella, and volva), stem shape, length and diameter, were observed. The study found 46 species from 15 families of macrofungi. Seven species potentially containing bioactive compounds as immunomodulator for boosting immunity were Auricularia auricula, Cerrena unicolor, Lentinus edodes, Pleuretus ostreatus, Stereum hirsutum, Schizophyllum commune, Trametes versicolor.

Macroscopic Fungi Exploration in Batang Gadis National Park Resort 7 Mandailing Natal District, North Sumatra

Introduction: Macroscopic fungi are simple plants that are often found growing wild in the wild. This study aims to determine the types of macroscopic fungi, to recognize the beneficial and harmful macroscopic fungi in Batang Gadis National Park Resort Area 7. Materials and Methods: A descriptive survey method with deliberate sampling using line transects, namely using a plot with a size of 20 m x 20 m as many as 36 plots and the distance of each plot is 10 m. Results: Found in 32 types of macroscopic fungi were obtained which belong to 11 families, such as: Polyporaceae, Ganodermatacea, Marasmiaceae, Stereaceae, Hygrophoraceae, Amanitaceae, Tricholomataceae, Russulaceae, Auriculariaceae, Sparassidaceae, and Psathyellaceae. The diversity index (H') of macroscopic fungi was 2.92 (medium). There are three types of macroscopic fungi that are consumed by the human in Sopotinjak Village as food and traditional medicine, and seven types that are not consumed because they contain toxins. There are 22 other species, namely Trametes cimulata, Lentinus tigrinus (Bull) Fr, Polyporus sp., Hygrophorus psittacinus, Trymyces sp., Hygrophorus aurantica (Wulfen), Polyporus sp.2, Collybia sp., Russula sp., Trametes sp.1, Ganoderma sp, Trametes sp.2, Stereum sp., Lignosus rhinocerus, Trametes versicolor (L), Trametes sp.3, Sparasis crispa (Wulfen), Hygrocybe conica (Schaeff), Polyporus sp.3, Trametes sp.4, Stereum hirsutum (Willd) Gray, Microporus xanthopus (Fr) Kuntze, and Tametes sp.5.

Production of minor ginsenosides by combining Stereum hirsutum and cellulase

Minor ginsenosides (MGs) (include ginsenoside F2, Compound K, PPT, etc), which are generally not produced by ginseng plants naturally, are obtained by deglycosylation of major ginsenosides. However, the conventional processes used to produce deglycosylated ginsenosides focus on the use of intestinal microorganisms for transformation. In this study, an edible and medicinal mushroom Stereum hirsutum JE0512 was screened from 161 β-glucosidase-producing soil microorganisms sourced from wild ginseng using the plate coloration method. Furthermore, JE0512 was used for the production of CK from ginseng extracts (GE) in solid-state fermentation (SSF) using 20 g corn bran as substrate, 4 g GE, and 20% inoculation volume, and the results showed that the highest CK content was 29.13 mg/g. After combining S. hirsutum JE0512 with cellulase (Aspergillus niger), the MGs (F2, CK, and PPT) content increased from 1.66 to 130.79 mg/g in the final products. Our results indicate that the Stereum genus has the potential to biotransform GE into CK and the combination of S. hirsutum JE0512 and cellulase could pave the way for the production of MGs from GE.

Synopsis of the macrofungi (Basidiomycota) on wood of fruit trees in the Central Black Earth Region of Russia

Aim. To summarise and analyse data on the species diversity, distribution and substrate spectra of wood-inhabiting basidial macromycetes growing on fruit trees in the Belgorod, Voronezh, Kursk, Lipetsk, Oryol and Tambov Regions.Material and Methods. The work involved a critical examination of literature sources, LE, OHHI, and VU herbaria. We undertook field researches in 2019-2020, identified specimens collected based on light microscopy techniques and isolated the basidial fungi in a pure culture.Results. Data on 97 species of basidial macrofungi from 68 genera associated with Malus, Pyrus and Prunus wood in the Central Black Earth Region are summarised. Antrodia serpens and Ceriporia torpida are newly known to Russia. 65 new dikaryot-ic strains for 22 species of Agaricomycetes have been introduced into the LE-BIN. A total of 65 species are associated with Malus, 34 species with Pyrus and 29 species with Prunus. Five species (Lyomyces crustosus, Stereum hirsutum, Trametes hirsuta, T. ochracea and T. versicolor) grow on all three genera of host. These species specialise in fruit trees include Sarcodontia crocea and Phellinus pomaceus.Conclusion. Pathogenic activity has been clearly observed for 32 species of fungi found on trunks and branches of living trees, causing necrosis and trunk rot. Furthermore, it is recommended that regular phytopathological monitoring of orchards should be carried out, taking the group of xylotrophic fungi into account.

Black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) colonization by macrofungi in the fourth season of its decline due to different control measures in the Kampinos national Park

The experiment conducted in the Kampinos National Park since 2015 was aimed at assessing the sprouting ability of black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) in response to different measures of mechanical control and mycobiota colonizing the dying trees. Basal cut-stump, cutting at ca. 1 m above the ground and girdling were performed on 4 terms, two plots and applied to 25 trees, 600 trees in total. Sprouts were removed every 8 weeks since the initial treatment for 4 consecutive growing seasons, except winter-treated trees. At the end of the fourth season of control, 515 out of 600 trees were dead (86%): 81% on Lipków and 90% on Sieraków plot. Among 18 experiment variants with sprouts removal, 17 showed more than 80% of dead trees. The lowest, 76% share, concerned summer cut-stump at the base of the tree. For winter measures, the share of dead trees was lower in all cases and ranged from 28% to 64% proving that sprouts removal contributes to the drop of sprouting strength and quicker dying of the trees. Almost 80% of trees showed sporocarps that represented 51 taxa of macrofungi in total, including 6 Ascomycota and 45 Basidiomycota. The group of six most frequently encountered fungi includes: Hyphoderma setigerum, Bjerkandera adusta, Peniophora cinerea, Armillaria ostoyae, Nectria cinnabarina, Stereum hirsutum. Both plots had similar share of black cherry individuals with sporocarps of macrofungi, that is, 81% and 78% for Sieraków and Lipków respectively. The share of colonized trees and the number of reported macrofungal taxa increased significantly compared to the year following the treatment. In addition, the composition of macrofungi changed with the progressing dying of trees. These results broaden the knowledge about macroscopic fungi colonising and living on black cherry within its secondary range of distribution. Moreover, one macrofungus and two microfungi new for KNP are reported.