Growth and Cultural-Morphological Characteristics of Vegetative Mycelia of Medicinal Caterpillar Fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis G.H. Sung et al. (Ascomycetes) Isolates from Tibetan Plateau (P.R.China)

Abstract

The morphological and cultural characteristics of vegetative mycelia of 29 Tibetan strains of medicinal caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (= Cordyceps sinensis) were studied. Data on mycelial growth of the above-mentioned fungi strains on different types of nutrients, the macro- and micromorphological description of colonies grown on different agar media, and anamorph stage identification are provided. It was shown that strains of O. sinensis demonstrated moderately slow growth on selected nutrients compared with other ascomycetous fungi. The highest growth rate value from all analyzed strains is O. sinenis N14-2.7 mm/day was completed with a mycelial run on potato-dextrose agar (pH = 6.0) in 15 d. Most of the examined strains preferred Sabouraun’s dextrose agar; some of the strains preferred potato-dextrose agar as the medium for optimal development. The least favorable nutrient for all strains was Czapek solution agar. Analyses of morphological and microstructural peculiarities on different types of nutrients were conducted and detailed descriptions and illustrations were provided. Based on macro- and micromorphological characteristics, the investigated strains were identified as Hirsutella sinensis and Tolypocladium sinensis species, which were identified as the anamorphs of Ophiocordyceps sinensis.

Identification and Bioactive Potential of Endogenetic Fungi Isolated from Medicinal Caterpillar Fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis from Tibetan Plateau

“…Mycelial growth rate (GR) of the fungal colonies was calculated according to the method described in the previous literature (Barseghyan et al, 2011) with some modifications. Fungal strains were planted on PDA media in Petri dishes and inoculated at 25°C in the dark.…”

Suitability and Advantages of Abundance-Weighted Algorithms for the Holistic Comparison of Sample Systems

“…Scientists have reported the molecular heterogeneity of C. sinensis-associated fungi of the genera Hirsutella, Paecilomyces and Tolypocladium as well as Geomyces pannorum, Cladosporium macrocarpum, Phaeosphaeria pontiformis and Neosetophoma samarorum (in total, more than 90 species spanning at least 37 genera) [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. SNP mass spec genotyping and amplicon sequencing with or without molecular cloning have identified the mutant ITS sequences of at least 17 genotypes of O. sinensis fungi with multiple, scattered point mutations or DNA segment substitution hereditary variations from the natural C. sinensis insect-fungi complex [1][2][3][4][10][11][12][13]19,[22][23][24][25][26][27][28].…”

A Comparative Study on Chemical Composition and Pharmacological Effects of <i>Paecilomyces hepiali</i> and Wild <i>Ophiocordyceps sinensis</i>

“…It is also used in treatment of immune disorders and as an adjunct to modern cancer therapies (chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and surgery). Ophiocordyceps sinensis is believed, particularly in and around Tibet, to be a remedy for weakness and fatigue, and is often used as an overall rejuvenator for increased energy while recovering from serious illness [2]- [4].…”