Identification, isolation and in vitro culture of a wild strain of Ganoderma australe from Sikkim, India

Pure cultures of Ganoderma species were isolated from pristine forests of the eastern Himalayan region, Sikkim, India. Macroscopic, microscopic, and molecular analysis, including ITS sequencing confirmed the identity of the strain as Ganoderma australe (Fr.) Pat. Herein we report Ganoderma australe, a strain not previously reported from the eastern Himalayan region and establishment of its fructification in in-vitro condition. Ganoderma australe has been reported to possess various bioactive compounds, such as triterpenoids, polysaccharides, and phenolic compounds, which contribute to its potential medicinal properties. The pure culture G. australe strain isolated in the present study was successfully tested in two different substrate bases (maize and wheat) for spawn production. Fructification was observed in all the substrate bags containing different wood combinations sawdusts and rice straw as the main organic substrate supplemented with cornmeal and wheat bran. The present findings underscore the rich fungal biodiversity of Sikkim and also provide valuable insights into effective in vitro cultivation strategies of potential medicinal mushrooms.