Generation of Phellinus igniarius mutants with enhanced polysaccharide and flavonoid content using ion implantation.

Low energy ion implantation technology was used to generate mutants of Phellinus igniarius SH009 with enhanced polysaccharide and flavonoid content.Protoplasts of P.igniarius were subjected to ion implantation and,after protoplast regeneration,eight mutants were selected on the basis of mycelial growth rate and growth vigor.Following four sub-cultures on potato dextrose medium,five mutants exhibiting stable mycelial growth rates were selected for polysaccharide and flavonoid analysis.Crude polysaccharide levels were significantly higher(p0.05) in two mutants compared with the parent strain,and total flavonoid levels were significantly higher(p0.05) in all five mutants.Highest increases in polysaccharide and flavonoid content were recorded with mutant P4,which were 87.76% and 73.24% higher,respectively compared with the parental levels.Our data demonstrate that low energy ion irradiation is a suitable method for breeding improved strains of P.igniarius.