doi: 10.4489/KJM.2025.53.3.5 Citation BibTeX RIS Mendeley

Fungal Diversity Associated with Stored Dried Reishi and the First Report of Talaromyces macrosporus in Korea

Fungal Diversity Associated with Stored Dried Reishi and the First Report of Talaromyces macrosporus in Korea

• Min Kyung Kim (Department of Mushroom Science, Korea National University of Agriculture and Fisheries, Jeonju 54874, Korea)
• Hong Hee Jeong (Mush&, Jeonju 54874, Korea)
• Dong Hyun Son (Dongguri-Farm, Jinan, 55414, Korea)
• Geon Sik Seo (Department of Mushroom Science, Korea National University of Agriculture and Fisheries, Jeonju 54874, Korea)
• Myung Soo Park (Department of Mushroom Science, Korea National University of Agriculture and Fisheries, Jeonju 54874, Korea)

Reishi is a medicinal mushroom widely cultivated in East Asia and is valued for its bioactive compounds. However, fungal contamination during postharvest storage can cause discoloration and mycotoxin contamination, threatening product safety and quality. Despite its economic importance, fungal communities associated with stored dried Reishi have not been studied in Korea. In this study, 35 fungal strains were isolated from stored dried Reishi collected in Korea. Based on internal transcribed spacer regions, β-tubulin, and calmodulin, the strains were identified as 17 species within five genera. Aspergillus and Penicillium were predominant, with A. chevalieri, A. montevidensis, A. fumigatus, Coniochaeta velutina, and P. citrinum being the most frequently detected species. Several Aspergillus and Penicillium species detected in this study are known producers of mycotoxins, indicating potential risks to product safety. This study is the first to examine the fungal communities associated with stored dried Reishi in Korea. These results suggest the importance of effective postharvest management practices to control contamination and maintain the safety and quality of Reishi products. In addition, detailed morphological descriptions of Talaromyces macrosporus, a previously unrecorded species, are provided.