Solid-State Cultivation of Edible Oyster Mushrooms , Pleurotus spp . under Laboratory Conditions

Oyster mushrooms of genus Pleurotus are well known as valuable edible mushrooms which are broadly cultivated in the world as well as wildly propagated in forests of the temperate climate zones including Russia. Indoor cultivation conditions adapted for a laboratory with non-specialized facilities were suggested for effective solid-state cultivation and fruit bodies’ production of Pleurotus species. Seven of 9 Pleurotus species of different origin produced fruit bodies successfully. The best fructification was shown for species P. sajor-caju, P. ostreatus, and P. pulmonarius with fruit body yields of 74%, 72%, and 61% by dry substrate weight in the first flushing cycle. Fruit bodies appeared in five to 10-day flushes. “Spawn run” stage was completed within 17 to 24 days, the longest colonization stage (26 days) being for the pink oyster, P. djamor. The cultivation parameters proposed in this study can be employed with ease for laboratory and “home” cultivation of oyster mushrooms. The species and strains’ identification was confirmed by restriction analysis of ITS region of rRNA gene cluster. Molecular barcodes based on restriction enzyme (AluI, and BsuRI) profiles of ITS sequences were shown to be applicable for molecular genotyping of Pleurotus species of different origin.


Introduction
Oyster mushrooms of the genus Pleurotus (Fr.) Kumm.(phylum Basidiomycota, subphylum Agaricomycotina, class Agaricomycetes, order Agaricales, family Pleurotaceae) are well known as valuable edible mushrooms which are broadly cultivated in the world as well as wildly propagated in forests of temperate climate zones including Russia.Due to the high nutritional value, delicate taste, and variable vitamins and minerals content, oyster mushrooms rank second in terms of industrial cultivation worldwide after a white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus [1] [2].Pleurotus mushrooms are also characterized by valuable medicinal properties such as antitumor, antioxidant and hypolipidemic activities [3] [4] [5] [6].At the same time, they are xylotrophic fungi that inhabit on dead or living wood, except for species P. eryngii (Fr.)Quel., which is a parasite on roots of umbelliferous plants [7].Since oyster mushrooms are secreting cellulolytic and lignolytic enzymes, they can be used for biotechnological purposes [8].
The most common species which is used for food purposes worldwide is Pleurotus ostreatus (Fr.)Kumm.The other species such as P. pulmonarius (Fr.)Quel., P. sajor-caju (Fr.)Singer, P. eryngii (Fr.)Quel., P. djamor (Rumph.ex Fr.) Boedijn., P. citrinopileatus Singer, and P. cornucopiae (Paul.)Rolland are also attractive for consumption as food.However, there are some species which are not cultivated and edible, for example, P. calyptratus (Lindblad ex Fr.) Sacc., P. cystidiosus O. K. Mill.and P. dryinus (Pers.)P. Kumm.; the latter two species form an anamorphic stage (asexual sporulation) in the life cycle that is not typical for most members of genus Pleurotus.In the literature, there is not much information on production or laboratory cultivation of these species.
The genus Pleurotus is characterized by a complex taxonomic structure and includes about 30 species.However, traditional taxonomic identification of some closely related species or twin-species with similar morphology based on macroand micromorphological characteristics is not always unambiguous.In our previous study, for distinguishing closely related species such as P. ostreatus, P. pulmonarius, and P. sajor-caju, we employed tests on sexual compatibility (monmon crosses) to identify interspecific reproductive barriers between the species [9] [10].The phylogenetic tree of genus Pleurotus was also constructed based on ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequences of rRNA gene cluster [11].
The aim of the present study was adaptation of laboratory conditions (with non-specialized facilities) for effective solid-state cultivation and fruit bodies production of commonly cultivated species of genus Pleurotus, as well as some exotic species, and to confirm the species taxonomic names of cultivated strains by molecular genotyping.

Mushroom Strains
Fourteen strains of nine species of genus Pleurotus were used in the study.The strains were obtained from different collections and were collected in different habitats (Table 1).Among them, there were wild natural isolates as well as cultivated commercial oyster mushroom strains.All strains were subjected to sequencing of ITS region of the rDNA cluster, and obtained sequences were deposited into GenBank under accession numbers presented in

Fruit Bodies Production under Laboratory Conditions
Mycelial cultures were routinely grown on 1.5% malt extract agar (MEA) in Petri dishes at temperature 25˚C.First, sterile mycelial inoculum (spawn inoculum) was prepared.50 g of dry wheat grains were placed in a 250 ml-conical glass flask and poured with 70 ml of water.Flasks were closed with cotton plugs and sterilized at 121˚C for 30 min.Then sterile moisturized grains were inoculated with 7-day mycelial culture grown on agar plates: 3 mycelial agar blocks of 1 cm 3 per each flask.The flasks were incubated in the dark at 25˚C for about two weeks until the wheat seeds were covered with the mycelium.
In the next stage, a substrate (wheat straw) for mushroom solid state cultivation was prepared in a glass jar (1 L volume) covered with a glass lid.The glass jars were filled with 75 g of wheat straw and 500 mL of water.After autoclaving at 121˚C for 30 min, sterile straw became soft and suitable for colonization by the fungus.Excess of water in the jars after autoclaving was removed.Then wet substrate was inoculated with Pleurotus spp.spawn: wheat grains colonized by the mycelium in the flasks were transferred into glass jars with sterile wheat straw followed by incubation.After spawning, the glass jars were moved to a spawn run chamber and incubated in the dark at 25˚C till complete colonization of spawned substrate (a "spawn run" stage) and primordia appearance.It usually took up to 20 -30 days.Preliminary cultivation conditions were selected during series of laboratory experiments conducted by author Shnyreva A.A. in the laboratory of Prof. U. Kuees (Georg-August University, Goettingen, Germany) [12].All experiments on solid-state cultivation of oyster mushrooms were conducted in six replicates for each tested strain.To trigger the fruiting, jars were placed in a cultivation chamber at 10˚C and 9-h artificial daylight illumination for 2 days (conditions of "cold shock" stimulation of fruiting) and then transferred to a cultivation chamber for fruiting cycle.Two sets of experiments were performed: 1-at temperature 20˚C and 9 h artificial daylight illumination (700 lux), simulation of indoor (room) conditions during winter period; 2-at 25˚C and 12 h lighting (1000 lux), simulation of indoor conditions during summer.Relative humidity in the cultivation chamber was maintained at 85-95% and aeration was adjusted to keep CO 2 level at 800 ppm (0.10% -0.14%).
Productivity of oyster mushroom strains were evaluated by two flushes of fruiting.To evaluate the yield of mushrooms produced, mature fruit bodies were weighed after cutting, and parameters of fruit bodies (cap and stipe size) were measured.The yield was estimated and expressed as a percentage of fresh weight of the harvest (g) over the dry substrate weight (g) used.Mature fruit bodies were also placed in Petri dishes to obtain spore prints (basidiospores' offspring).Experiments on mushroom cultivation were performed using facilities designed at the Laboratory of Fungal Biotechnology, Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas.

Statistical Analysis
Data were processed using Statistica 9.0.The results are expressed as mean values ± standard deviation (SD) of six replicates.

Molecular Genotyping of Strains
To confirm species identity of cultivated mushroom strains, molecular genotyping based on sequencing of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of rRNA gene cluster was performed; and the data were compared with those received previously in our laboratory [11].Extraction of DNA was performed from 5-day-old mycelial cultures by a standard protocol [13].DNA was purified by precipitation with 96% ethanol and used further as a template for amplification.Amplification was performed on thermal cycler "Amply4" (Biokom, Russia) using Taq polymerase and a pair of standard primers: forward ITS1 (5'-TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG-3') and reverse ITS4 (5'-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3').The conditions of amplification were elaborated earlier [10].Sequencing of PCR products was performed from both ends with each of two primers (ITS1 or ITS4) used in the amplification by using a set of reagents ABI PRISM® BigDye TM Terminator V. 3.1, with subsequent analysis of the sequenced products on the automated sequencer "Applied Biosystems 3730 DNA Analyzer", at Joint Research Center "Genome" (Institute of Molecular Biology, Russia).Analysis of newly obtained sequences was performed using programs Chromas (http://technelysium.com.au) and Mega 6 (http://www.megasoftware.net).Restriction enzyme digestion of ITS amplicons were performed using a standard protocol [13].

Oyster Mushrooms Cultivation
Some edible species of oyster mushrooms (P.ostreatus, P. pulmonarius, P. sajor-caju, P. eryngii) are widely cultivated in greenhouses around the world.Cultivated strains of different species require different cultivation conditions and growing parameters.For example, subtropical species such as P. djamor and P. sajor-caju are grown at higher temperatures and longer daylight illumination [14].Required humidity for the growing of most cultivated species is varied in the range of 84% -96% [14] [15].One of the crucial parameters for fruit bodies' production is the concentration of CO 2 in a cultivation chamber.At high concentrations of carbon dioxide, fruit bodies are usually smaller and of atypical morphology.Color of fruit body caps are affected by temperature regime: the higher the temperature, the lighter pigmentation of the fruit body caps [16] [17].
Fourteen commercial and wild-collected strains of nine different Pleurotus species were successfully cultivated under the standardized laboratory conditions proposed in this study.Among tested mushroom strains, there were species inhabited in different climate zones and, therefore, required different growing parameters such as temperature and daylight illumination cycle.For example, species P. ostreatus, P. pulmonarius, P. cornucopiae, P. calyptratus, and P. dryinus are predominated in temperate climate forests, whereas species P. djamor and P. sajor-caju are inhabited in more humid and warm subtropical environment.
Nevertheless, seven out of 9 species tested in our laboratory were shown to produce fruit bodies with typical morphology and relatively high yield, performing two flushes of fruiting.Results of the oyster mushrooms cultivation in the glass jars are presented in Table 2.
Primordia and mature fruit bodies were obtained for the following species: P. ostreatus, P. pulmonarius, P. sajor-caju, P.djamor, P. cornucopiae, P. cystidiosus and P. calyptratus.All these species were shown to colonize intensively the wheat straw substrate, P. ostreatus and P. cystidiosus strains being more successful."Spawn run" stage (defined as a period of time when the mycelium is colonizing the substrate) for wild isolates H-5 (P.ostreatus) and AG55/466 (P.cystidiosus) was completed in 17 days, whereas the other strains demonstrated complete substrate colonization within 21 -24 days, the longest colonization stage (26 days) being for the pink oyster, P. djamor wild strain 1526 (Table 2).During the fruiting cycle of Pleurotus strains, fruit bodies appeared in five to 10-day flushes, except for the pink oyster strain 1526.Its first flush was registered much later, on 22 nd day of incubation at 25˚C and 12 h lighting (under the "summer" laboratory conditions).
Two flushing cycles were obtained for almost all strains tested, except for the species P. eryngii and P. dryinus.The species P. eryngii is known to be inhabited in hot semi desert climate zones and therefore, may require higher temperature and longer daylight exposure for successful fructification.Total yield of fresh fruit bodies over total dry substrate weight in the first flushing cycle was ranged between 44% and 74% (Table 3).The best fructification was shown for the species P. sajor-caju, P. ostreatus, and P. pulmonarius with the yield of fruit bodies of 74%, 72%, and 61% by the dry substrate weight respectively in the first flushing cycle during the second experimental series (under the "summer" conditions).Maximum fruiting for almost all mushroom strains tested was observed in the first flush under the "summer" conditions.Remarkably, the yield of P. cystidiosus strain AG55/466 in the second flush reached 59% over the dry sub- strate weight as compared to 47% productivity in the first flush (Table 3).Likewise, P. pulmonarius wild strains O9-3 and ZBS2012 which were collected in Moscow region demonstrated considerably high productivity (24% and 34% respectively) in the second flushing cycle and 61%, 56% yields during the first flush (under the "summer" conditions).It should be mentioned that P. pulmonarius species is predominated in temperate climate forests in Moscow region in summer and, therefore, the cultivation laboratory conditions simulating natural  "summer" ones were the most appropriate for this species.Thus, growing parameters such as temperature and lighting cycle were proved to have a significant impact on the overall productivity of wild and commercial Pleurotus strains that was shown by other authors as well [14] [15].
Native to the tropics, the pink oyster mushroom, P. djamor produced fruit bodies only in the second experimental series with simulated "summer" conditions, i.e. 12 h day lighting and temperature 25˚C.As compared to other species analysed, the "spawn run" stage (colonization of substrate by the mycelium) was delayed and observed only on 26 th day with further fructification on 22 nd day (Table 2).However, the total yield of fruit bodies in the first flush reached 52% that is comparable with productivity of P. cornucopiae and P. calyptratus species which are common in areas with temperate climate (Table 3).Thus, we did not observe much correlation between the "spawn run" time and mushroom yields as it was reported in some publications [18] [19].
P. calyptratus wild strains (C-1 and 1935), which are not cultivated and nonedible, produced fruit bodies with one flush of fructification only, taking 30 -31 days from the substrate inoculation to the first flush harvested (Table 2).P. cystidiosus (strain AG55/466), the only species within the genus Pleurotus which produces asexual (anamorphic) coremia-like structures [20] was shown to produce mature fruit bodies successfully in both flushing cycles with the productivity of 47% and 59% by weight of dry substrate and the shortest period of first fruiting flush (totally 22 days from the "seeding" of the substrate to the first flush) in the "summer" experimental series (Table 2).There is little information about commercial cultivation of P. cystidiosus, and, particularly in Russia, the species is not popular for cultivation for food purposes.It should be mentioned that solid-state cultivation conditions proposed in this study apparently were not optimal for all species tested.Thus, broadly world-cultivated the king oyster, P. eryngii (commercial strain H-7) was failed to produce fruit bodies.According to recommendations on cultivation of this species, it requires lower temperatures (10˚C -15˚C) to form primordia and temperature above 18˚C for further fruiting cycle [21].However, we were unable to obtain fruit bodies for P. eryngii even after incubation with cold shock (10˚C).It might be due to non-specific substrate employed for the cultivation, since it is usually recommended to use complex substrates, including oak sawdust, sunflower or cottonseed husks, or wheat straw supplied with straw of umbelliferae plants [21].Fructification was also failed for the oak oyster mushroom, P. dryinus.This species is not cultivated, although edible.It is confined to Northern latitudes, and might require special conditions for fruiting initiation under laboratory conditions.Remarkably, in this study, for the first time, fruit bodies of species P. cystidiosus and P. calyptratus were obtained under standardized conditions of the laboratory cultivation.

Molecular Genotyping
Molecular barcodes (or DNA barcording) based on restriction analysis of ITS sequences of the rRNA gene cluster were developed for genotyping Pleurotus species.The aim of developing DNA barcoding system is to employ a short, effective and standardized gene region for identification of various species [22].There are several approaches for searching and developing appropriate molecular barcodes.In our study, we employed an approach based on ITS1-5.8S-ITS2region of rRNA gene cluster that is commonly used in the Fungi kingdom.ITS sequences are shown to be variable and species-specific in most fungal taxa [23].
Searching for appropriate bar-codes for Pleurotus species, we demonstrated that ITS sequences within the genus Pleurotus are differed in their length and variable enough to be used for species differentiation.For better between-species resolution, we proposed using a protocol based on restriction enzyme digestion of ITS sequences amplified by PCR.Moreover, the ITS amplicons' digestion with selected set of enzymes was shown helping to proceed molecular identification of species within the genus faster avoiding a laborious sequencing technique.A set of restriction enzymes (AluI, BsuRI, HinfI, and EcoRI) were proposed and tested for identification and differentiation of the species within genus Pleurotus, including commonly cultivated species.A chart flow of species-specific re- striction enzymes patterns (AluI and BsuRI), or molecular barcodes, for the species used in this study is presented in Figure 1.As seen, numbers and sizes of the restriction fragments are differed and unique for each species tested.The unique system of molecular barcoding was developed for 17 genotypes which were relevant to 18 Pleurotus species including the species presented in this study [24].
Based on our previous research combined employing ITS-based molecular markers and sexual compatibility tests (mating crosses) [9] [10], it was proved that the molecular approach is a reliable technique to confirm species taxonomic names of cultivated oyster mushrooms and to differentiate closely related species within genus Pleurotus, for example, P. pulmonarius and P. sajor-caju, P. cornucopiae and P. citrinopileatus [10].Such species (also called as "twin-species") are often of similar, hardly distinguishable morphology and therefore, it is quite awkward to identify their species taxonomic status.That is why molecular techniques become handy and of certain importance.

Conclusion
Simple and flexible technique (standardized laboratory conditions) is suggested for solid-state cultivation of different edible mushrooms of genus Pleurotus (oyster mushrooms).Seven of 9 species produced fruit bodies successfully.The growing parameters proposed can also be employed with ease for indoor "home" cultivation of a variety of oyster mushrooms.The species taxonomic names of the cultivated oyster mushrooms were confirmed by employing molecular markers based on restriction analysis of ITS sequences (defined as molecular barcodes).Molecular barcodes were shown to be also applicable for differentiation of closely related Pleurotus species of similar morphology (twin-species).

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Molecular barcodes based on restriction enzyme digestion patterns of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2region of rRNA gene cluster for Pleurotus species studied.ITS sequences for the restriction analysis were generated by PCR.ITS sequences within the genus Pleurotus are differed by their length (as indicated on the left in nucleotide base pairs, bp); number of restriction fragments in each pattern varies between 2 and 3 as detected in 1% agarose gel.Letters A and B on the top of each pattern corresponds to restriction enzyme sites: A = AluI, B = BsuRI; the fragment length is indicated in base pair, bp.The size and number of restriction fragments are species-specific and variable enough to be used for species differentiation.

Table
. List of Pleurotus strains used in the work.
Living Systems, Moscow Lomonosov State University and stored at Department of Mycology and Algology, MSU (collection name MSU_BIO_EBF).