Investigation of mycelial growth in some gill fungi under laboratory conditions.

Abstract

The effect of the composition, consistence and pH of the media was investigated in 57 species (110 strains) of gill fungi of theAgaricaeae family with respect to the influence of cultivation conditions. The results showed that different genera have diverse nutritional requirements. Wort agar, adjusted to pH 5.5 was suitable for most of the fungi investigated. The growth rate of mycelial colonies was also compared, and the effect of the fungi on the cultivation medium and certain manifestations associated with growth, including fructification. A growth coefficient, expressing the relation of the length, height and density of the aerial mycelium after 14 days of cultivation was used to characterize the manner of growth of the different species. The experiments confirmed that most wood-inhabiting species grow rapidly, terrestrial fungi more slowly, and mycorrhizal fungi the slowest. Strains of the same species preserved similar growth characteristics. Microscopic study of the growth of the aerial mycelium revealed clamp connections in the hyphae in 69% of the fungi investigated and secondary spores in 11%.