Fungi are an understudied, biotechnologically valuable group of organisms. Due to 
the immense range of habitats that fungi inhabit, and the consequent need to compete against a diverse array of other fungi, bacteria, and animals, fungi have developed numerous survival mechanisms. The unique attributes of fungi thus herald great promise for their application in biotechnology and industry. Moreover, fungi can be grown with relative ease, making production at scale viable. The search for fungal biodiversity, and the construction of a living fungi collection, both have incredible economic potential in locating organisms with novel industrial uses that will lead to novel products. This manuscript reviews fifty ways in which fungi can potentially be utilized as biotechnology. We provide notes and examples for each potential exploitation and give examples from our own work and the work of other notable researchers. We also provide a flow chart that can be used to convince funding bodies of the importance of fungi for biotechnological research and as potential products. Fungi have provided the world with penicillin, lovastatin, and other globally significant medicines, and they remain an untapped resource with enormous industrial potential.

The amazing potential of fungi: 50 ways we can exploit fungi industrially

Ganoderma lucidum (Ling Zhi) is a basidiomycete white rot macrofungus which has been used extensively as "the mushroom of immortality" in China, Japan, Korea and other Asian countries for 2000 years. A great deal of work has been carried out on therapeutic potential of Ganoderma lucidum. The basidiocarp, mycelia and spores of Ganoderma lucidum contain approximately 400 different bioactive compounds, which mainly include triterpenoids, polysaccharides, nucleotides, sterols, steroids, fatty acids, proteins/peptides and trace elements which has been reported to have a number of pharmacological effects including immunomodulation, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, chemo-preventive, antitumor, chemo and radio protective, sleep promoting, antibacterial, antiviral (including anti-HIV), hypolipidemic, anti-fibrotic, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-androgenic, anti-angiogenic, anti-herpetic, antioxidative and radical-scavenging, anti-aging, hypoglycemic, estrogenic activity and anti-ulcer properties. Ganoderma lucidum has now become recognized as an alternative adjuvant in the treatment of leukemia, carcinoma, hepatitis and diabetes. The macrofungus is very rare in nature rather not sufficient for commercial exploitation for vital therapeutic emergencies, therefore, the cultivation on solid substrates, stationary liquid medium or by submerged cultivation has become an essential aspect to meet the driving force towards the increasing demands in the international market. Present review focuses on the pharmacological aspects, cultivation methods and bioactive metabolites playing a significant role in various therapeutic applications.

Ganoderma lucidum: a potent pharmacological macrofungus.

Changes in content of organic acids and tea polyphenols during kombucha tea fermentation

This study highlights the recent advances in the treatment and value addition of lignocellulosic wastes (LCW) with main focus on domestic and agro-industrial residues. Mechanical, physical and biological treatment systems are brought into perspective. The main value-added products from lignocellulosic wastes are summarized in a manner that pinpoints the most recent trends and the future directions. Physicochemical and biological treatment systems seem to be the most favored options while biofuels, biodegradable composites and biosorbents production paints a bright picture of the current and future bio-based products. Engineered microbes seem to tackle the problem of bioconversion of substrates that are otherwise non convertible by conventional wild strains. Although the main challenge facing LCW utilization is the high costs involved in treatment and production processes, some recent affordable processes with promising results have been proposed. Future trends are being directed to nanobiotechnology and genetic engineering for improved processes and products. The paper presents state of the art review of the dual advantage of handling LCW for cleaner environment and production of renewable bio-products.

https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajb/article/download/60134/48385

Recent advances in pretreatment of lignocellulosic wastes and production of value added products

Chemical Analysis of Food

Hazelnut husk as a substrate for the cultivation of shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes).

Tea waste (TW) was investigated as a new supplement for substrate mixtures in Ganoderma lucidum cultivation. The effects of sawdust (S) based substrates supplemented with TW at the various levels (75S:25TW, 80S:20TW, 85S:15TW, and 90S:10TW) and Ganoderma lucidum strains on yield, biological efficiency (BE) and the chemical composition of fruiting bodies were determined in solid-state fermentation. Significant differences were found among substrates regarding yield and BE, while yield and BE of the strains were not different. The substrate formulations producing highest yield and BE were 80S:20TW (87.98 g/kg substrate and 34.90%) and 75S:25TW (82.30 g/kg substrate and 31%). Yield and BE of substrates containing TW were generally higher than that of the control (80sawdust:18wheat bran:1sucrose:1 CaCO3). Nitrogen, potassium, iron, and manganese contents and C:N ratios of substrates were strongly correlated with yield. BE showed positive and significant correlations with potassium, iron and manganese. Moisture content, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc contents of the fruiting bodies were affected by both strain and substrate. It was concluded that TW can be used as a supplement for substrate preparation in G. lucidum cultivation.

Tea waste as a supplement for the cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum

http://www.fungifun.org/docs/mushrooms/Using%20tea%20waste%20as%20a%20new%20casing%20material%20in%20mushroom%20cultivation.pdf

Using tea waste as a new casing material in mushroom (Agaricus bisporus (L.) Sing.) cultivation.

Fresh pod yield and some pod characteristics of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) genotypes from Turkey

A total of 169 species of macrofungi were determined in Samsun province between 1997 and 2001, of which 19 belonged to the Ascomycota, 149 to the Basidiomycota and one to the Myxomycota. Among these, 51 species were edible, 67 inedible, 28 edible but not worthwhile or best avoided because of possible confusion with poisonous species, and 12 species were poisonous. The edibility of 11 species was unknown.

https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/botany/issues/bot-03-27-3/bot-27-3-3-0204-3.pdf

Aysun Pekşen

Papers

Hazelnut husk as a substrate for the cultivation of shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes).

Tea waste as a supplement for the cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum

Using tea waste as a new casing material in mushroom (Agaricus bisporus (L.) Sing.) cultivation.

Fresh pod yield and some pod characteristics of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) genotypes from Turkey

Macrofungi of Samsun Province