Microbial communities associated with commercial production of the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lingzhi in soil

To help understand the potential mechanisms of the yield reduction in Lingzhi cultivated in soil, this study investigated the soil chemical features and soil microbial communities associated with Lingzhi cultivation. Specifically, we analyzed the chemical properties of soil samples in representative stages of Lingzhi growth and development over three years. Similarly, the abundance, composition and taxonomic diversity of bacterial and fungal communities in these soil samples were investigated using culture-independent, high throughput DNA sequencing method. The obtained data should help design appropriate management strategies for sustained production of Lingzhi.