Antrodia camphorata ATCC 200183 sporulates asexually in submerged culture.

Antrodia camphorata is a well-known Chinese medicinal mushroom that protects against diverse health-related conditions. Submerged fermentation of A. camphorata is an alternative choice for the effective production of bioactive metabolites, but the effects of nutrition and environment on mycelial morphology are largely unknown. In this study, we show that A. camphorata American Type Culture Collection 200183 can form arthrospores in the end of liquid fermentation. Different morphologies of A. camphorata in submerged culture were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The optimal carbon and nitrogen sources for sporulation were soluble starch and yeast extract. We found that a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N) of 40:1, MgSO4 (0.5 g/l), KH2PO4 (3.0 g/l), an initial pH 5.0, and an inoculum size of 1.5×10(5) spores/ml led to maximum production of arthroconidia. Our results will be useful in the regulation and optimization of A. camphorata cultures for efficient production of arthroconidia in submerged culture, which can be used as inocula in subsequent fermentation processes.