Morphological and Genetic Characteristics of Different Collections of Ganoderma P. Karst. Species

none4Extensive research on biology of Basidiomycetes mushrooms has markedly increased due to their potential use for the production of new biotech-products ( pharmaceuticals, nutriceuticals, etc. ) . In spite of their commercial importance there are many gaps to be filled in the current knowledge on their taxonomy and biology. It is reported that white-rot species of genus Ganoderma P. Karst. possess different medicinal effects and have been used as traditional medicines in many countries. More than 250 Ganoderma species are described , however variable morphological characteristics makes species identification difficult. Ganoderma collections of 22 strains were isolated in Armenia, France, Iran , Italy and China. Collections were genetically identified using nuclear rDNA-ITS sequences data. Cultural ( morphological, ecological, physiological ) characteristics and growth parameters of mycelial colonies and pellets, presence of chlamydospores were thoroughly described in submerged and static culture&. using different nutrient media. Two collections of G. lucidum from Armenia genetically were identified as G. lucidum, two from three French collections as G. lucidum, one as Trametes gibbosa , four Italian and one Chinese collections also belongs to G. lucidum species. Armenian, Italian and French collections of G. lucidum are placed in the European G. lucidum clade. Seven collections of G. applanatum from Armenia and one from Iran are identified as G. adspersum species which is originally reported for Armenian mycobiota. One collection of G. applanatum from Armenia was confirmed by molecular analysis. One Ganoderma sp. strain from France and two strains from Iran were identified as belonging to G. resinaceum. The French G. resinaceum is closely related with G lucidum sequences from USA. The sequence analyses revealed that G. lucidum from Armenia wer monophyletic with respect to the Italian G. lucidum genotype. The genetic and momixedBadalyan S.; Gharibyan N.; Iotti M.; Zambonelli A.Badalyan S.; Gharibyan N.; Iotti M.; Zambonelli A