166
been misidentified. Only a single collection of Lentinula guarapiensis is reported
from Paraguay till 1983 (Pegler 1983). The reports on shiitake distribution from
Papua New Guinea region and the Pacific islands are poorly reported (Bisen
et al. 2010).
Shiitake are one of the largest cultivated mushrooms worldwide due to their
importance in food and therapeutic applications. It was first macrofungus to attain
the focus in modern biotechnology. In food, it is also used as appetizers as well as
nourishing (Xu et al. 2014). It contributes to about 17% of the total global consumption of mushrooms. In Japan and the Far East, shiitake is one of the most edible
mushrooms (Hiraide et al. 2004; Lee et al. 2017). In therapeutics, shiitake mushrooms are documented for treating ailments related to immune suppression, cancer
and allergies treatments against viral and fungal infections, bronchial inflammation,
heart diseases, treating blood cholesterol, diabetes, and several other diseases.
Shiitake or golden oak mushroom is explored for scale cultivation and production.
Its production is responsible for the economy of northeastern region of India.
Shiitake mushrooms are of paramount importance due to their unique taste and
health and nutraceutical benefits. The pharmacological properties of shiitake mushrooms are attributed to polysaccharides such as lentinan, eritadenine, shiitake mushroom mycelium, and culture media extracts. It is composed of 58–60% of
carbohydrates, 20–23% of proteins, 9–10% of fibers, 3–4% of lipids, and 4–5% of
ash (Wasser 2003; Xu et al. 2014).
The delimitation of Lentinula species is controversial (Pegler 1983; Hibbett
1992; Hibbett et al. 1995). It was initially represented by three species such as
L. edodes from continental and northeast Asia and L. lateritia from tropical Asia
and Australia and L. novaezelandieae of New Zealand (Pegler 1983). However,
based on mating compatibility, all of these species were found interfertile and hence
categorized as a single species (Shimomura et al. 1992). Thereafter, based on phylogenetic analysis, four distinct lineages (groups I–IV) of shiitake mushroom in
Asia–Australia were reported (Hibbett et al. 1995). Group I represented Japan,
Borneo, and Thailand, whereas group II represented Tasmania and Papua New
Guinea. Group III was restricted to Papua New Guinea. However, Lentinula from
several regions such as China and Australia were not included (Hibbett et al. 1998).
The phylogenetic analysis based on ITS sequences revealed five major lineages of
Lentinula (groups I–V). Based on bootstrap values of 80–100%, these groups were
categorized as monophyletic. However, later on root ambiguities (bootstrap value of
70%) proved that only groups II, III, and V were monophyletic (Hibbett et al. 1998).
The major establishment of this study approved a fifth lineage (group V) of shiitake
mushrooms in continental Asia which includes eastern China and Nepal. Group V
from Himalayan regions representing Nepal contains only one isolate (Hibbett
et al. 1998).
In India, several Lentinus species have been reported along with Panus from the
Western Ghats (Pegler 1983a, b; Manimohan et al. 2004; Natarajan et al. 2005;
Farook et al. 2013; Senthilarasu 2014). Different species of Lentinus are known as
L. bambusinus (Kumar and Manimohan 2005), L. polychrous (Manimohan et al.
2004; Mohanan 2011), L. patulus (Mohanan 2011), L. sajor-caju (Manimohan et al.
R. Salwan et al.
been misidentified. Only a single collection of Lentinula guarapiensis is reported
from Paraguay till 1983 (Pegler 1983). The reports on shiitake distribution from
Papua New Guinea region and the Pacific islands are poorly reported (Bisen
et al. 2010).
Shiitake are one of the largest cultivated mushrooms worldwide due to their
importance in food and therapeutic applications. It was first macrofungus to attain
the focus in modern biotechnology. In food, it is also used as appetizers as well as
nourishing (Xu et al. 2014). It contributes to about 17% of the total global consumption of mushrooms. In Japan and the Far East, shiitake is one of the most edible
mushrooms (Hiraide et al. 2004; Lee et al. 2017). In therapeutics, shiitake mushrooms are documented for treating ailments related to immune suppression, cancer
and allergies treatments against viral and fungal infections, bronchial inflammation,
heart diseases, treating blood cholesterol, diabetes, and several other diseases.
Shiitake or golden oak mushroom is explored for scale cultivation and production.
Its production is responsible for the economy of northeastern region of India.
Shiitake mushrooms are of paramount importance due to their unique taste and
health and nutraceutical benefits. The pharmacological properties of shiitake mushrooms are attributed to polysaccharides such as lentinan, eritadenine, shiitake mushroom mycelium, and culture media extracts. It is composed of 58–60% of
carbohydrates, 20–23% of proteins, 9–10% of fibers, 3–4% of lipids, and 4–5% of
ash (Wasser 2003; Xu et al. 2014).
The delimitation of Lentinula species is controversial (Pegler 1983; Hibbett
1992; Hibbett et al. 1995). It was initially represented by three species such as
L. edodes from continental and northeast Asia and L. lateritia from tropical Asia
and Australia and L. novaezelandieae of New Zealand (Pegler 1983). However,
based on mating compatibility, all of these species were found interfertile and hence
categorized as a single species (Shimomura et al. 1992). Thereafter, based on phylogenetic analysis, four distinct lineages (groups I–IV) of shiitake mushroom in
Asia–Australia were reported (Hibbett et al. 1995). Group I represented Japan,
Borneo, and Thailand, whereas group II represented Tasmania and Papua New
Guinea. Group III was restricted to Papua New Guinea. However, Lentinula from
several regions such as China and Australia were not included (Hibbett et al. 1998).
The phylogenetic analysis based on ITS sequences revealed five major lineages of
Lentinula (groups I–V). Based on bootstrap values of 80–100%, these groups were
categorized as monophyletic. However, later on root ambiguities (bootstrap value of
70%) proved that only groups II, III, and V were monophyletic (Hibbett et al. 1998).
The major establishment of this study approved a fifth lineage (group V) of shiitake
mushrooms in continental Asia which includes eastern China and Nepal. Group V
from Himalayan regions representing Nepal contains only one isolate (Hibbett
et al. 1998).
In India, several Lentinus species have been reported along with Panus from the
Western Ghats (Pegler 1983a, b; Manimohan et al. 2004; Natarajan et al. 2005;
Farook et al. 2013; Senthilarasu 2014). Different species of Lentinus are known as
L. bambusinus (Kumar and Manimohan 2005), L. polychrous (Manimohan et al.
2004; Mohanan 2011), L. patulus (Mohanan 2011), L. sajor-caju (Manimohan et al.
R. Salwan et al.