Ganoderma lucidum biophysical composition and description

Ganoderma lucidum growth is divided into three phases, the stages of spores, mycelium and the fruiting body. Its life cycle starts after the ripened fruiting body release spores. These spores would land on dead, decaying woods and in adequate condition will germinate into mycelium. Mycelia will then undergo into three stages, from primary to secondary to tertiary mycelia and eventually the fruiting body will sprout out and in its late phase, basidium is formed and basidiosphores will be produced.

Mycelium – three hyphaes make up the mycelium

a. Primary Hyphae- Directly develops after the spore’s stage, primary hyphae are fine filaments. They are divided by the basiodiomytes which acts as a way of cell division, and can be seen in between the primary hyphae. Its main source of nutrients is from the spores and this limits its life span to a shorter period of time. Primary hyphae has only one nucleus.

b. Secondary Hyphae- from one nucleus in the primary hyphaes in which it were produce, secondary hyphaes become a dikaryon hyphaes with dual nucleuses. The nucleus in one hyphae merges to another hyphae to complete this process.

The secondary hyphae can get its nutrient from the media and will later on form a mycelia and may lock to each other to form joined mycelium. Given adequate nutrients and resources, the mycelium may live for several years.

c. Tertiary Hyphae. The maturity of secondary hyphae is called the tertiary hyphae. Secondary hyphaes join and twist with each other former a more complex structure, the primordium. This will turn into tertiary hyphaes and ends in the fruiting body. Tertiary hyphaes shows fewer voids in the interconnected mycelias and have shown differentiation in its tissues and organs. Stem and cap can already be distinguishable.

To learn more about Ganoderma in the Philippines and its roots to Chinese Culture, please read Fruiting Body