In vitro post-harvest growth parameters of termite-associated fungi: a case study of Termitomyces schimperi (Basidiomycota, Lyophyllaceae)

Abstract: Post-harvest growth parameters of the pileus of three immature sporocarps (Y₇, Y₈, Y₁₀) of Termitomyces schimperi showing margins still attached to the stipe by the veil upon collection were studied in order to determine the optimum temperature, air moisture and maximum time at which they continue to grow after collection until opening their hymenophore, giving access to more mature lamellae able to produce spore-prints and more relevant for other studies. The figures obtained from the three equations (Y₇ = 0.7 + 0.1x; Y₈ = 1.98 + 0.225x; Y₁₀ = -0.94 + 0.116x) of correlation between pileus post-harvest growth and time show various growth patterns depending on morphology, physiology and metabolism of each of the three sporocarps (3 replicates: Y₇, Y₈ and Y₁₀) tested in vitro. The experiment also shows that, while the size of the stipe of T. schimperi remains constant in the three replicates, its pileus continues to grow for about 36 hrs maximum after collection and its diameter increases of about 3.23 cm to 10.08 cm in an environment of darkness with temperature ranging between 23℃ and 24℃ and relative humidity between 88% and 92%. Considering on the one hand that gill-fungi in general and Termitomyces in particular are highly perishable goods, and on the other hand that sporocarps of Termitomyces are not yet raised in artificial culture, this experiment shows that during mycological excursions, even when sporocarps of these species are found immature on the field, they should also be collected for study since a post-harvest growth of the pileus of numerous species could be artificially triggered or boosted in the laboratory in order to be able to obtain spore-prints important at various levels, and also get access to more mature lamellae absolutely necessary for further studies including particularly the macro- and microscopical descriptions prior to identification. Mature lamellae are also most often the best part used in gill-fungi for DNA extraction in molecular studies.

Key words: 
• correlation /
• environment /
• immature sporocarps /
• mature hymenium /
• spore prints /
• termitophilic fungi