Adaptive Regulatory Mechanisms of <i>Armillaria mellea</i> in Bamboo Media: A Biochemical Analysis

Conventional wood-based substrates for cultivating <i>Armillaria mellea</i> pose ecological and economic challenges. Bamboo, a fast-growing renewable resource, offers a promising alternative. This study evaluated <i>A. mellea's</i> adaptability to bamboo media through biochemical analyses, including growth kinetics, extracellular enzyme activity, bioactive compound production, and the molecular degradation of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The results showed that bamboo substrates effectively supported <i>A. mellea</i> growth, with high cellulase (29.97 U/L) and xylanase (54.54 U/L) activities. Bioactive compounds accumulated significantly: protein (18.2 mg/g), polysaccharides (62.9 mg/mL), and triterpenes (82.9 mg/mL). After 40 days, the degradation rates were 66.2% for cellulose, 56.1% for hemicellulose, and 52.5% for lignin. Structural analysis revealed a preference for degrading glucose, arabinose, xylose, and aromatic lignin units. These findings confirm that bamboo is a sustainable and efficient substrate for <i>A. mellea</i> cultivation, improving both growth and degradation, with potential applications in sustainable agriculture and companion cropping with <i>Gastrodia elata</i>.