EFFECT OF CARBON AND NITROGEN SOURCES ON THE PRODUCTION OF DIETARY FIBRES AND GLUCANS BY SUBMERGED CULTURES OF TWO GREEK MUSHROOM SPECIES, GANODERMA AUSTRALE AND PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of carbon and nitrogen sources on the production of bioactive total dietary fibres (TDF) and glucans (alpha- and beta-glucans) in submerged cultures of wild Ganoderma australe and commercial Pleurotus ostreatus, both of Greek origin. The contents of glucans and TDF were determined by using the respective Megazyme enzymatic kits. Glucose and yeast extract (YE) were suggested as appropriate carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, for obtaining simultaneously high production of TDF and beta-glucans by G. australe, which are compounds of great pharmacological interest, whereas maltose and YE were found favourable for high production of the above-mentioned functional components by P. ostreatus. The data obtained in this study provide useful information for further development of the studied mushroom fermentation process on a scale of the bioreactor aiming at enhanced TDF and beta-glucan production.