Phylogenetic analysis and screening of elite cultivated Ganoderma strains in China
- 1College of Landscape Architecture, Changchun University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
- 2Corn Research Institute, Changchun Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
- 3Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.
Abstract
Ganoderma cultivation has a long history in China, with Ganoderma lingzhi, now taxonomically recognized as G. sichuanense, being the primary cultivated species. Cultivation spans a wide range of climatic zones, from tropical to frigid regions. However, the use of diverse strains across regions has led to significant variability in growth traits and quality. To screen high-quality strains applicable to large-scale cultivation, we collected and evaluated 18 Ganoderma strains from core cultivation regions across Northeast, Central, Southwest and South China; this sampling panel covering the primary genetic and geographical diversity of cultivated Ganoderma nationwide. Species identification using both morphological and molecular methods revealed that 11 strains belonged to G. sichuanense, while 7 were identified as G. sessile. These results indicate that some strains currently cultivated as G. sichuanense may actually represent G. sessile, highlighting the importance of accurate species identification in cultivation practices. Growth evaluation showed that G. sessile strains generally exhibited shorter growth cycles than G. sichuanense strains, suggesting differences in growth performance interspecific. Chemical composition analysis showed that strain HZ-PJ (a strain of G. sichuanense) had the highest polysaccharide content (12.72 mg/g) and strongest DPPH antioxidant activity (3.0 μmol Trolox/g) among all tested strains. In contrast, strain HZ-TS (a strain of G. sessile) exhibited the highest levels of triterpenoids (12.2 mg/g) and flavonoids (10.0 mg/g). Collectively, strains HZ-PJ (G. sichuanense) and HZ-TS (G. sessile) combine favorable growth rates, high bioactive compound contents, and strong antioxidant potential, showing preliminary potential for standardized cultivation in northeastern China. It should be noted that this evaluation is only based on indoor culture assessments, and additional multi-location field trials focusing on yield stability, disease resistance and biological efficiency are still required to verify their commercial cultivation suitability. This study provides a systematic framework for strain evaluation and practical guidance for mushroom growers to select high-quality Ganoderma strains with stable agronomic traits and prominent functional activity.
Related
- Comparison of the performance of sporophytes derived from narrow and wide genetic crosses between strains of the cultivated kelp Saccharina latissima
- In silico codon optimization and phylogenetic analysis of various strains of Sapovirus
- Screening for putative essential genes in Brucella abortus strains A19 and S2308 using transposon mutagenesis.
- A scalable screening approach reveals phylogenetic patterns of bacterial antagonism against potato pathogens
- Conservation of grassland patches failed to enhance colonization of ground-active beetles on formerly cultivated plots
BibTeX
@article{liang2026phylogenetic,
title = {{Phylogenetic analysis and screening of elite cultivated Ganoderma strains in China}},
author = {Rujia Liang and Chaoan He and Keling Liu and Yuhao Zhang and Shuyu Han and Xiaofen Li and Ye Fu and Yuan Ren and Odeshnee Naicker and Chunlan Zhang},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0360043},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360043},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Phylogenetic analysis and screening of elite cultivated Ganoderma strains in China
AU - Rujia Liang
AU - Chaoan He
AU - Keling Liu
AU - Yuhao Zhang
AU - Shuyu Han
AU - Xiaofen Li
AU - Ye Fu
AU - Yuan Ren
AU - Odeshnee Naicker
AU - Chunlan Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0360043
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360043
AB - Ganoderma cultivation has a long history in China, with Ganoderma lingzhi, now taxonomically recognized as G. sichuanense, being the primary cultivated species. Cultivation spans a wide range of climatic zones, from tropical to frigid regions. However, the use of diverse strains across regions has led to significant variability in growth traits and quality. To screen high-quality strains applicable to large-scale cultivation, we collected and evaluated 18 Ganoderma strains from core cultivation regions across Northeast, Central, Southwest and South China; this sampling panel covering the primary genetic and geographical diversity of cultivated Ganoderma nationwide. Species identification using both morphological and molecular methods revealed that 11 strains belonged to G. sichuanense, while 7 were identified as G. sessile. These results indicate that some strains currently cultivated as G. sichuanense may actually represent G. sessile, highlighting the importance of accurate species identification in cultivation practices. Growth evaluation showed that G. sessile strains generally exhibited shorter growth cycles than G. sichuanense strains, suggesting differences in growth performance interspecific. Chemical composition analysis showed that strain HZ-PJ (a strain of G. sichuanense) had the highest polysaccharide content (12.72 mg/g) and strongest DPPH antioxidant activity (3.0 μmol Trolox/g) among all tested strains. In contrast, strain HZ-TS (a strain of G. sessile) exhibited the highest levels of triterpenoids (12.2 mg/g) and flavonoids (10.0 mg/g). Collectively, strains HZ-PJ (G. sichuanense) and HZ-TS (G. sessile) combine favorable growth rates, high bioactive compound contents, and strong antioxidant potential, showing preliminary potential for standardized cultivation in northeastern China. It should be noted that this evaluation is only based on indoor culture assessments, and additional multi-location field trials focusing on yield stability, disease resistance and biological efficiency are still required to verify their commercial cultivation suitability. This study provides a systematic framework for strain evaluation and practical guidance for mushroom growers to select high-quality Ganoderma strains with stable agronomic traits and prominent functional activity.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -