• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.26 no.1 s.84
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• pp.91-96
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• 1998

Optimal conditions for the preservation of mushroom cultures in sterile distilled water were investigated. Mycelial disks from 12 mushroom cultures were preserved at room temperature, $5^{\circ}C,\;-20^{\circ}C$ and $-75^{\circ}C$ using sterile water and 6 cryoprotectants for 12 months. The maximal viability of mycelial disks was observed at room temperature and $5^{\circ}C$ with the value of 91.7%. At $-75^{\circ}C$, the viability was highest in polyethylene glycol (PEG) and lowest in 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The average mycelial growth was highest for disks preserved at $-75^{\circ}C$ in PEG. PEG was the most suitable for the preservation at $-75^{\circ}C$, although this chemical has rarely been used as a cryoprotectant in fungal culture preservation. The laccase isozyme patterns of the preserved isolate of H. ferrugineum were not changed during preservation at $5^{\circ}C$ in sterile distilled water as compared to that of slant culture.