Production of Submerged Mycelium of Laricifomes officinalis (Vill) Kotl. et Pouzar

In recent years in Russia, interest has grown in the development of food and fodder additives and pharmaceutical drugs based on higher mushrooms and their metabolites. Most of these research works are concerned with basidiomycetes, which are widely investigated in many countries all over the world. The involvement of rarely encountered fungal organisms, with complex trophism and ecology, into the circle of investigations, not only would extend the range of practically valuable species but also provide new information on their biology, chemistry and genetics. Our attention was attracted by a representative of the unique group of xylotroph basidiomycetes, Laricifomes officinalis. Lately, this fungus has started to be studied as a producer of biologically active compounds. The following culture medium for the submerged cultivation of L. officinalis in laboratory was selected, g/l: glucose, 20.0; NH NO , 3.5; KCl, 0.5; K PO , 1.0; MgSO , 0.5; 4 3 2 4 4 beer wort of 15 degrees Balling, 115.0. The optimal physical conditions for growing L. officinalis submerged culture either in flasks on a rotary shaker or in a fermenter were selected: temperature, 25-28°C; stirring at 180 rpm; duration, 14 days.