Antimicrobial Activity of Three Italian Strains of Morchella esculenta (Ascomycota)

Abstract

Three genetically identified and morphologically characterized strains (MesAQ2-C, MesAQ6-2 and MesFI2-3) of the culinary-medicinal ascomycete mushroom <i>Morchella esculenta </i>(L.) Pers. collected in central-north Italy have been studied for their antifungal and antibacterial activities. The obtained data showed that mycelium of <i>M. esculenta</i> possess variable antimicrobial activity against four test fungi (<i>Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton terrestre, Penicillium griseofulvum</i>), as well as one Gram positive (<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>) and three Gram negative (<i>Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>) test bacteria potentially pathogenic for humans and animals. Up to 20.4% of inhibition of the average mycelial growth rate (GR<sub>avr</sub>) of test fungi in dual culture experiment was detected. The samples of cultural liquid (CL) and mycelial extract (ME) obtained by static cultivation of <i>M. esculenta </i>strains showed up to 13.9 and 23.0% of GR<sub>avr</sub> inhibition of test fungi, respectively. Similarly, the inhibition of the bacterial colonies by CL and ME samples was 34.1 and 32.3%, respectively in comparison with the control with streptomycin indicating almost equal secretion of both intra- and extracellular antimicrobial compounds by <i>M. esculenta</i> mycelium. As a producer of antimicrobial compounds among tested <i>M. esculenta </i>strains, MesAQ2-C was the most effective. It may be considered for further myco-pharmacological research to develop mushroom-based antimicrobial biotech products with biomedical significance.