Abstract:

Grifola umbellata (Pers.) Pilat is a fungus whose sclerotium has potent pharmaceutical values. The present study shows that its sclerotia can be reproduced from the hyphae, in addition to its traditional mode of reproduction from sclerotia. On a culture medium, the hyphae first become swollen and enlarged followed by differentiation to form a highly organized structure, sclerotia. We demonstrate that at a microscopic level, sclerotia derived from hyphae and sclerotia obtained in the field are similar, both having cortex and medullary substances.

Key words: sclerotia of Grifola umbellata, hyphae of Grifola umbellata, microstructure, fungus marrow