Mycelial Growth of Medicinal Mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. in Pure Culture

The physiological characteristics of 14 different strains of the edible, medicinal, important mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. were investigated on beechwood substrate and agarized and liquid media. The strains studied are very similar in their effect on the increase in temperature as well as the water content of the substrate and the pH of liquid media. No growth was observed at 3 and 37°C. A temperature of 26°C and a 50 to 70% water content of the substrate were optimal for vegetative growth of all strains. The optimum pH-level for the growth of all strains investigated was between 5.8 and 6.2. The strains studied differ in their production of C02 during vegetative growth. The measurable production of C02 started at the third day of growth. By the fifth day, C02 production had increased 1.5 to 3 times. The maximal C02 production was observed on the thirteenth day for fast-growing strains and on the sixteenth day for slow-growing strains.