In vitro MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF Pleurotus spp. STRAINS IN GUANAJUATO, MEXICO

Abstract

The consumption of edible fungi has increased worldwide due to its nutritional and functional properties. In the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, the production of these fungi depends on the import of strains from different species. This is due to a lack of isolation and characterization of regional mycogenetic resources such as in the case of the “Maguey mushroom”. The aim of this study was to carry out the in vitro molecular identification, morphological characterization, and antioxidant biochemistry of a strain of Pleurotus sp. in Guanajuato, Mexico, and to compare it to commercial strains. The hypothesis proposed is based on the possibility of isolating a regional strain with adequate mycelial characteristics for its in vitro cultivation. A wild strain called UG-01 was collected and isolated from an Agave mapisaga plant and its identity was determined by sequencing the region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2. The strain was cultivated in vitro, and the mycelium was characterized; an experimental strain and four commercial ones were included as a control. The results were analysed in a totally randomized design. The “Maguey mushroom” strain was identified as Pleurotus djamor. Based on the CIE L*a*b system, the coordinates 86.2, -5.6 and -4.1 were obtained, along with 33.1 and 21.7 for Hue and Chroma. The UG-01 strain displayed the highest growth rate with a cottonlike structure and without exudates. In addition, it presented the highest concentration of proline, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids, as well as the lowest remains of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). In conclusion, it was possible to cultivate the mycelium of the “Maguey mushroom” in vitro, which displayed better morphological and antioxidant biochemistry in comparison with the imported commercial strains.