RT Journal Article ID 5e7ca4e46bcea3f3 A1 Leonardi, Pamela A1 Puliga, Federico A1 Iotti, Mirco A1 Piattoni, Federica A1 Zambonelli, Alessandra T1 Ultra-Low Freezing to Preserve the Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes) JF International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms JO IJM YR 2018 FD 2018-07-25 VO 20 IS 7 SP 677 OP 683 K1 fruiting ability K1 Ganoderma lucidum K1 lingzhi or reishi mushroom K1 medicinal mushrooms K1 mycelial growth rate K1 preservation K1 -120°C AB Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst., commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, is characterized by strong genetic and phenotypic variability that reflects its active components. To preserve such a source of pharmacologically active metabolites, specimens must be collected from different geographic regions and their genetic integrity ensured during storage. To this aim, we tested the effect of ultra-low freezing (ULF) at -120°C on the vitality, mycelial growth rate, and fruiting ability of 3 Italian strains of G. lucidum. Results showed that all strains reacted positively to ULF, demonstrating an ability to recover after 3 months of storage without morphological or physiological changes occurring, regardless of treatment. The successful storage of G. lucidum at -120°C opens up the possibility to create a germplasm bank to collect strains of this medicinal fungus from throughout Europe, thereby contributing to the maintenance of its diversity. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/708ae68d64b17c52,640fd41946e8b89d,5e7ca4e46bcea3f3.html