The enrichment of edible mushrooms with lithium (Li) may be a strategy to provide forms of lithium that are more soluble and bioavailable for humans. Therefore, it is important to determine which species of fungi are able to grow in the presence of Li, and which concentrations of Li allow fungal growth. Twelve white rot fungi strains were grown in potato dextrose agar media, supplemented with 0 to 1.65 g L -1 lithium chloride (LiCl). The fungal growth rate, morphological alterations of the colonies, changes in the length of the lag phase, fungal dry mass, changes in hyphae diameter and cell length were evaluated. Most fungi had decrease in their growth rates and dry mass, and had macroscopic/microscopic morphological alterations at increasing LiCl concentration. Generally, the fungi were sensitive to LiCl. However, Pholiota nameko was moderately tolerant to LiCl and Pleurotus ostreatusroseus tolerate the highest LiCl level tested, suggesting that it is the most appropriate fungus for Li-enrichment.
Identifying the most suitable lithium compounds for fungal growth is important for the lithium (Li) enrichment of mushrooms. However, enrichment thus far has been carried out using LiCl. In an effort to identify an alternative source of lithium, we investigated the effect of five lithium compounds on lag phase, growth rate and biomass of ten species of white-rot fungi. The objective of this work was to make a screening of promising lithium compounds for further studies of Li enrichment of mushrooms. The fungal growth was affected depending on the species and lithium form tested. Lithium sulfate and lithium chloride were found to be the most promising candidate compounds for the Li enrichment of mushrooms.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.