Effects of Biochar on Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Ganoderma lingzhi (Lingzhi) During Cultivation

ABSTRACT This study focused on Ganoderma mycelium as the experimental subject and conducted a systematic investigation into the effects of varying the addition ratio of biomass charcoal in the cultivation substrate. The objective was to thoroughly evaluate how differences in biochar proportions influence the growth and developmental characteristics of Ganoderma mycelium. Throughout the experimental process, several critical growth and physiological parameters were monitored and analyzed, including the mycelial growth rate, water retention capacity of the substrate, extracellular enzyme activity (TP, POD, SOD, CAT), as well as the levels of soluble sugar and protein within the mycelium. After a series of experiments, the results showed that biochar addition significantly enhanced mycelial growth rate ( p  < 0.05) and extracellular enzyme activities while decreasing protein levels. Furthermore, the group with 20 g of biochar addition significantly enhanced the extracellular enzyme activity ( p  < 0.05), thereby improving the ability of the mycelium to decompose and utilize the nutrients in the substrate. In conclusion, appropriately adjusting the addition of biochar has a significant impact on regulating the growth and physiological metabolism of the Ganoderma lucidum mycelium. These research results provide a scientific basis for optimizing cultivation techniques to increase the yield and quality of Ganoderma lingzhi .