Enhancing Eritadenine Production in Submerged Cultures of Shiitake (Lentinula edodes Berk. Pegler) Using Blue LED Light and Activated Charcoal. Revealing Eritadenine’s Novel In Vitro Bioherbicidal Activity Against Chrysanthemum morifolium

Abstract

Eritadenine from shiitake mushroom is a secondary metabolite with hypocholesterolemic, hypotensive and antiparasitic properties, thus promising for pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. Eritadenine is obtained from submerged mycelial cultures of shiitake, but the actual yields remain unsatisfactory to explore potential applications or industrial-scale production. In this study, green and blue LED lights were tested to increase yields of eritadenine in submerged cultures of shiitake. Notably, blue LEDs increased yields by 13–14 times, reaching 165.7 mg/L, compared to darkness (11.2 mg/L) and green light (12.1 mg/L) (p < 0.05, Tukey test). Nitrogen sources yeast extract (YE) and peptone (at 2 g/L) increased eritadenine production. YE promoted 22.6 mg/L, while peptone 18.3 mg/L. The recovery of eritadenine was evaluated using amberlite and activated charcoal (AC) adsorption isotherms. AC demonstrated the highest adsorption rate, with 75 mg of eritadenine per gram of AC, according to the Freundlich isotherm. The desorption rate reached 93.95% at pH 10. The extract obtained from submerged cultures had eritadenine content of 63.31%, corresponding to 87.86% of recovery, according to HPLC analysis. Furthermore, the novel bioherbicidal potential of eritadenine was tested on in vitro Chrysanthemum morifolium plants. The cultures extract containing eritadenine had a detrimental impact on plant development, generating mortality of 100% at 3%, 0.5%, and 0.25%. Moreover, pure eritadenine exhibited a phytotoxic effect similar than glyphosate on leaves, stems and roots. These findings highlight the significant bioherbicidal properties of eritadenine. Further studies are needed to understand the biosynthetic pathway of eritadenine and its bioherbicidal properties on weeds and illicit crops.