Different Symbiotic Species of Armillaria Affect the Yield and Active Compound Contents of Polyporus umbellatus

<i>Polyporus umbellatus</i> is a medicinal fungus primarily used for diuresis, with its sclerotium serving as the medicinal component. The growth and development of sclerotia are reliant on a symbiotic relationship with <i>Armillaria</i>. However, the impact of different <i>Armillaria</i> species on the yield and quality of sclerotia remains unclear. In this study, three <i>Armillaria</i> strains, A35, A541, and A19, were identified through TEF-1α sequence analysis and phylogenetic classification. These strains were classified into three distinct species: A35 as <i>A. ostoyae</i>, A541 as <i>A. gallica</i>, while the taxonomic status of A19 remains unresolved. After four years of co-cultivation with these <i>Armillaria</i> strains, three groups of <i>P. umbellatus</i> sclerotia were harvested and labeled as A35-P, A541-P, and A19-P, respectively. The yields of A35-P, A541-P, and A19-P exhibited significant variations, with A541-P achieving the highest yield (1221 ± 258 g·nest^-1), followed by A35-P (979 ± 201 g·nest^-1), and A19-P yielding the least (591 ± 54 g·nest^-1). HPLC revealed significant differences in the levels of polyporusterone A and polyporusterone B among the groups. The total polysaccharide content, determined via the phenol-sulfuric acid method, also varied significantly, with A541-P recording the highest content (0.897 ± 0.042%), followed by A19-P (0.686 ± 0.058%), and A35-P showing the lowest value (0.511 ± 0.083%). PCA based on these data indicated clear distinctions among A35-P, A541-P, and A19-P, with the three groups forming separate clusters. This study, for the first time, demonstrates the effects of three different <i>Armillaria</i> species on the yield and active compound content of <i>P. umbellatus</i>. These findings provide valuable insights for selecting high-quality <i>Armillaria</i> strains and offer guidance for the artificial cultivation of <i>P. umbellatus</i>.