2021 Volume 29 Issue 3 Pages 109-112
Gymnopilus junonius is widely distributed in Japan and is well known as a hallucinogenic mushroom. A recent study revealed that gymnopilin produced by this mushroom has a biological effect on animal tissues, and its physiological and pharmacological activities have been investigated. In spite of the emerging research interest in this mushroom, the availability of fruiting bodies as a research material has been sporadic owing to the lack of an artificial cultivation method for this mushroom. In this study, we aimed to develop a sustainable cultivation method for G. junonius. Spawned substrates were processed using three treatments: cold stimulation, soaking and casing. Fruiting bodies were not observed on the substrates subjected to cold stimulation or soaking treatment. In comparison, fruiting bodies were consistently produced on the substrate subjected to casing treatment. Fruiting body formation was observed in the medium containing rice bran at 10 － 20% (v/v), but not on those at 0% or over 30%. When the substrate subjected to casing treatment was incubated under light, a high yield of normal fruiting bodies was observed. These results suggest that sustainable fruiting body formation can be achieved in medium containing rice bran at 10%, with casing treatment and incubation under light.
