This work characterized the morphology, ultrastructure, and biochemical composition of pigmented dense mycelial structures of the xylotrophic basidiomycetes Armillaria mellea, Pleurotus ostreatus, Lentinus edodes, Ganoderma lucidum, and Grifola frondosa. Similarities and differences between these morphological structures were compared. The morphometry, color, and ultrastructure of mycelial mats differed between the fungi. The mycelial mats were either complexly structured or homogeneous, and they had similar traits; for example, their intertwined hyphae, which were tightly adhered to one another, had strongly thickened (by 5–10 times) cell walls. Except for P. ostreatus, the content of pigments (melanins) in the fungi was strongly increased, as compared with the unpigmented vegetative mycelium. The total carbohydrate content in the mycelial structures was increased and was higher than the total protein content by 2–8 times, depending on the fungal species. Analysis of the activity dynamics of functional glycoproteins showed that in the brown mycelial mat of L. edodes and A. mellea, the activity of highly specific lectins and a number of enzyme systems increased manifold, as compared with the values for the vegetative mycelium. The specific enzyme systems were lyases (pectate lyases), hydrolases (peptidases), glycosyl hydrolases [amylases, invertases, chitinases, xylanases, cellulases (endoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases), α- and β-glucosidases, α- and β-galactosidases], and ligninolytic oxidoreductases (laccases, tyrosinases, lignin peroxidases, Mn-peroxidases). These enzymes are part of the fungal cellulolytic and ligninolytic complexes and are implicated in cell wall biogenesis in higher fungi. The data of this study indicate (1) active metabolism in the brown mycelial mat, (2) a leading role of the enzymes under study in the modification of the cell wall and in the cytodifferentiation of mycelial hyphae during the formation of morphogenic structures in basidiomycetes, and (3) important regulatory functions during transition to fruiting. In G. frondosa, G. lucidum, and P. ostreatus, these structures resemble resting stages and fulfill protective functions under unfavorable conditions. These studies are aimed at ascertaining the role of morphological structures that are closely related to the initiation of the transition from vegetative to generative development in the formation of fruiting bodies. The obtained data may also be used in mushroom-growing farms and in the industrial cultivation of fruiting bodies of edible and medicinal basidiomycetes.

Comparative characteristics of mycelial mats of xylotrophic basidiomycetes

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发表日期：

2025年7月11日

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Elena Pavlovna Vetchinkina

摘要

This work characterized the morphology, ultrastructure, and biochemical composition of pigmented dense mycelial structures of the xylotrophic basidiomycetes Armillaria mellea, Pleurotus ostreatus, Lentinus edodes, Ganoderma lucidum, and Grifola frondosa. Similarities and differences between these morphological structures were compared. The morphometry, color, and ultrastructure of mycelial mats differed between the fungi. The mycelial mats were either complexly structured or homogeneous, and they had similar traits; for example, their intertwined hyphae, which were tightly adhered to one another, had strongly thickened (by 5–10 times) cell walls. Except for P. ostreatus, the content of pigments (melanins) in the fungi was strongly increased, as compared with the unpigmented vegetative mycelium. The total carbohydrate content in the mycelial structures was increased and was higher than the total protein content by 2–8 times, depending on the fungal species. Analysis of the activity dynamics of functional glycoproteins showed that in the brown mycelial mat of L. edodes and A. mellea, the activity of highly specific lectins and a number of enzyme systems increased manifold, as compared with the values for the vegetative mycelium. The specific enzyme systems were lyases (pectate lyases), hydrolases (peptidases), glycosyl hydrolases [amylases, invertases, chitinases, xylanases, cellulases (endoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases), α- and β-glucosidases, α- and β-galactosidases], and ligninolytic oxidoreductases (laccases, tyrosinases, lignin peroxidases, Mn-peroxidases). These enzymes are part of the fungal cellulolytic and ligninolytic complexes and are implicated in cell wall biogenesis in higher fungi. The data of this study indicate (1) active metabolism in the brown mycelial mat, (2) a leading role of the enzymes under study in the modification of the cell wall and in the cytodifferentiation of mycelial hyphae during the formation of morphogenic structures in basidiomycetes, and (3) important regulatory functions during transition to fruiting. In G. frondosa, G. lucidum, and P. ostreatus, these structures resemble resting stages and fulfill protective functions under unfavorable conditions. These studies are aimed at ascertaining the role of morphological structures that are closely related to the initiation of the transition from vegetative to generative development in the formation of fruiting bodies. The obtained data may also be used in mushroom-growing farms and in the industrial cultivation of fruiting bodies of edible and medicinal basidiomycetes.