Standardizing the Media and In Vitro Growth Conditions for Macrocybe gigantea

Macrocybe gigantea (Callistosporiaceae) is a large, edible mushroom of nutritional and economic significance, valued for its protein, fibre, vitamins, polysaccharides, and essential minerals. Despite its potential for commercialization, optimized cultural conditions for its large-scale production remain under explored. In this study, a pure culture of Macrocybe gigantea isolated from Thrissur, Kerala, was molecularly characterized (GenBank accession number: PX068171) and evaluated in vitro for vegetative growth under different conditions. Among the different media tested, sorghum potato dextrose supported maximum mycelial growth in both solid and liquid forms. Sucrose proved to be the most efficient carbon source. The fungus exhibited optimum growth at 30 ± 2 °C and pH 5.0, under both dark and room light regimes. These results provide baseline information on the nutritional and environmental requirements of Macrocybe gigantea, offering a framework for its commercial cultivation and contributing to its sustainable utilization as a nutritionally rich food source.

Sona Jaison*1, Rashmi C. R2, Reshmy Vijayaraghavan3, Gleena Mary C. F.4 and Seeja Thomachan Panjikkaran5 Click here to download file

Research Article | Published online : 10-Sep-2025