Mycelial growth performance of Lepista species on various culture media

Abstract

The genus Lepista encompasses edible and medicinal mushrooms of significant economic and pharmacological value, necessitating efficient cultivation protocols. A critical first step in their domestication is the optimization of In vitro mycelial growth, which is highly
influenced by the nutrient composition of the culture medium. This study evaluated the effect of four different media Malt Extract Agar (MEA), Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Corn Meal Agar (CMA), and Carrot Dextrose Agar (CDA) on the mycelial growth of
Lepista spp. under controlled conditions. The results demonstrated a highly significant effect of culture medium on radial mycelial growth. PDA proved superior, yielding the highest mean colony diameter (77.20 mm), accompanied by dense, uniform mycelial expansion. CMA supported robust growth (65.40 mm), while CDA facilitated moderate development (53.80 mm). In contrast, MEA was markedly inferior, resulting in severely restricted growth (20.60 mm), indicating its inadequacy for the metabolic requirements of Lepista spp.