Identification of commercial Ganoderma (Lingzhi) species by ITS2 sequences.

Baosheng Liao,Shilin Chen,Wenjing Jiao,Xiaochen Chen,Yang Dan,Jianping Han,Jingyuan Song,Lili Wang

doi:10.1186/s13020-015-0056-7

Abstract

BackgroundDNA barcoding can be used to authenticate Ganoderma species for safe use. This study aims to identify commercial products containing Ganoderma using DNA barcoding.MethodsWe used 63 internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 2 sequences of Ganoderma species from 33 newly-sequenced wild samples, crude drugs, mycelia, spores, and authentic extracts and spore oils collected from various locations and markets, as well as 30 sequences from GenBank. Sequences were assembled and aligned using CodonCode Aligner V3.71. Intra- and inter-specific distances were estimated by MEGA 6.0, and phylogeny reconstruction was based on the K2P model. SNP(s) and RNA secondary structure of ITS2 were analyzed and compared among closely related Ganoderma species.ResultsG. lucidum cultivated in China was different from those cultivated in Europe. “Chizhi” (G. lucidum) and “Zizhi” (G. sinense) were clustered into two clades that were separated from the other Ganoderma species. The fruiting bodies and commercial products of G. lucidum and G. sinense were successfully distinguished from those of other Ganoderma species by comparing the ITS2 sequences and RNA secondary structures.ConclusionThe DNA barcoding method is applicable to the authentication of commercial products containing Ganoderma species.

Highlights

DNA barcoding can be used to authenticate Ganoderma species for safe use
Specimens included 33 samples of commercially cultivated fruiting bodies, strains, slices, spore powders, extracts and spore oils collected in this study, and 30 sequences obtained from GenBank (Table 1)
Twenty-six samples of G. lucidum, five strains of G. sinense, and two samples of G. resinaceum were collected in this study

Summary

Introduction

DNA barcoding can be used to authenticate Ganoderma species for safe use. This study aims to identify commercial products containing Ganoderma using DNA barcoding. Karsten (1881) established the genus Ganoderma based on G. lucidum [10], which was reported in China in 1934 and was first successfully artificially cultivated in 1969 [11]. Wang et al [12] determined that the widely cultivated G. lucidum in China was, G. sichuanense based on morphological and molecular evidence. They provided descriptions for the Lingzhi species in China, they did not obtain sequences from type specimens of G. sichuanense. The taxonomy of Lingzhi in China is still under dispute

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