Abstract
The effect of trehalose on the heat tolerance of Lentinula edodes vegetative raycelia was examined. After heat stress (39℃, 48 h), initial mycelial growth was observed on 5 % trehalose medium 7 days after inoculation. However, mycelia cultured on PDA medium did not revive until 10 days after inoculation. The trehalose content of the mycelia increased in parallel with that of the culture medium. Moreover, the intracellular trehalose levels in the vegetative mycelia were effectively increased by soaking in trehalose solution. The trehalose content increased with soaking period and reached a maximum of approximately 300 mg/g dry mycelia after soaking in 1.0 M trehalose solution for 3 days. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the mycelia that had grown on trehalose-supplemented medium after incubation at 39℃ for 48 h were more dense and expanded than those grown without trehalose. These results indicate that trehalose functions to protect vegetative mycelia of L. edodes against heat treatment.
