Hanoi (VNA) - The genome of rare Linhzhi mushrooms has beensuccessfully conserved by scientists of the Phuoc Binh National Park in southcentral province of Ninh Thuan, opening opportunities for the production of themushroom.

The research was part of a project titled ‘Conservation of Linh Chi geneticsources originating from the Phuoc Binh National Park’.

The three-year project was carried out by the Phuoc Binh National ParkManagement Board in cooperation with the Ninh Thuận Science and TechnologyDepartment, the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Biotechnology and Food, and theInstitute of Food Supplements.

The project was estimated to cost 2 billion VND (86,700 USD).

According to Luu Van Luong, an expert from the park, the research groupconducted several surveys to collect all kind of Linhzhi mushrooms in thenational park as well as test their DNA to name 8 species and add them to listof fauna and flora.

Based on the results, the national park successfully classified and conservedtwo kinds of mushrooms, namely the Ganoderma Lucidu (red Linhzhi) and Humphreyaendertii (black Linhzhi), said Luong.

The genetic preservation was implemented under the off-site or ex situconservation method in laboratories.

A model of conserving and producing the red and black Linhzhi in mushroomhouses and in semi-natural conditions under the forest canopy was carried outby the park.

The model was evaluated by the researchers before being transferred to localfarmers for production, said Luong.

The researchindicators showed that it took 68 days from seeding to harvest for the redmushroom and 88 days for the black ones.

The interval between harvests was 10 or 12 days. The mushroom would bring 3crops if they had good care.

On an area of 30sq.m, the yield of red Linhzhi was nearly 24kg of dry mushroomper 1,000 embryos while black Linhzhi’s yield was 12kg.

Nguyen Tuan Anh, vice head of the park’s international cooperation section,said the Linhzhi gene conservation project had an important meaning in geneticresource preservation to the rare Linhzhi mushrooms of Ninh Thuan province.

The national park has cooperated with scientific agencies to conduct researchto analyse and publish medicinal active ingredients of the Linhzhi originatingfrom the park, Anh said.

At present, the park had taken 5 households to grow the mushroom as a trial,while offering financial assistance for setting up gardens and providingmushroom embryos.

According to the park’s experts, growing the mushrooms was simple and cheap soit was suitable for poor households./.