Effect of trehalose on the spawn storage in some edible mushroom fungi (2): Effect on preservation in the freezer

 We describe the effects of trehalose on spawn storage in a home freezer (average temperature, −16°C) where edible fungi usually do not survive. When the mycelia of Lentinula edodes were stored in a freezer for 3 days, the survival rate of mycelia cultivated on 2% glucose medium was 30%, whereas those on media containing 2% and 5% trehalose were 50% and 60%, respectively. Addition of trehalose to the culture was more effective in Pleurotus ostreatus. These results suggest that trehalose played the role of a stress protectant against freezing, because the mycelia cultured on a trehalose medium grew more rapidly and produced more fruiting bodies compared to those cultured on glucose. Received: February 6, 2002 / Accepted: October 1, 2002 Acknowledgments This work was partially supported by a Grant in Aid for Scientific Research (c) (2) No. 12660156 from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. We also gratefully acknowledge a grant from Hokuto Foundation for the Promotion of Biological Science. Correspondence to:T. Terashita