Behavior of the mycelia of the genera Agrocybe, Panus, and Psilocybe (Agaricales) in different cultures

Abstract

Four species of Basidiomycetes (Agrocybe pediades, Panus cnnztus, Psilocybe cubensis and P. mexicana) were grown in different culture media with the purpose to observe physiologic and some morphologic characters: growth, pellicle formation, pigment production, color of pigment, acidification, coagulation, peptonization and hydrolytic capacity. Synthetic and nonsymhetic media were used; Sabouraud medium was the best to get a good growth. It was shown that the species used in this research have proteolytic action on gelatin. Carbon sources, both inorganic and organic, were tested: simple and complex carbohydrates, alcohols an:l g1ucosides; one of the species, P. crinitus, grows with atmospheric C02 as the only source of carbon or with Na2C03 in the culture medium; the other species only grow if a source of organic carbon is present in the medium. The hydrolysis of starch, cellulose and esculin was observed. Both inorganic and organic nitrogen sources were tested; all the species grow with nitrate or amonium salts in the medium. Several organic nitrogen sources were used; from them, peptone stimulated a vigorous growth of all the mycelia and urea held the growth of the species of the genus Psilocybe hut not the growth of the other two species. Some aminoacids also stimulated the growth of the mycelia of the four species, in different degree.