Research Advance in the Biological Characteristics of Polyporus umbellatus

Polyporus umbellatus is one of the precious medical fungi widely occurring in China.The ecological and biological habits,cultural characters of hyphae,the relationship with its companion fungus Armillaria mellea were summarized in this paper.The growth and development of P.umbellatus undergo several stages: basidiospores,mycelium,sclerotia and fruiting bodies.Companion fungus and carbon sources are the determinants that affect the sclerotial formation of P.umbellatus.The most suitable condition for the growth of mycelium is to culture the hyphae at 25℃ with neutral to acidic solid medium in the dark.In addition,the relationship with its companion fungus A.mellea is complicated.