Ganoderma: Diversity, Ecological Significances, and Potential Applications in Industry and Allied Sectors

Ganoderma species are some of the best known fungi due to their significant role as traditional medicine in numerous cultures, especially in Asia. Their medicinal significance has been verified by science, with novel compounds and applications continuing to be discovered. However, their utility for humans is not only limited to health and medicine. Due to their ecological roles as wood-decaying fungi and plant pathogens, additional uses exist in mycoremediation and agriculture, while the various ethnomycological roles they play provide further clues as to their potential in industry and allied sectors. Complementation with nanotechnology further provides novel opportunities. This chapter summarizes the potential of Ganoderma as exploited currently by humans and how species impact our daily lives, and also investigates novel applications and further opportunities. A staggering number of publications exist on Ganoderma species and this chapter is not at all meant to be exhaustive, but does aim to summarize as comprehensively as possible the diversity of uses these versatile fungi can provide.