Cordyceps militaris

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Cordyceps militaris
2010-08-06 Cordyceps militaris 1.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Fungi
Division:
Ascomycota
Class:
Sordariomycetes
Order:
Hypocreales
Family:
Cordycipitaceae
Genus:
Cordyceps
Species:
C. militaris
Binomial name
Cordyceps militaris
(L.) Fr. (1818)

Cordyceps militaris is a species of fungus in the family Cordycipitaceae, and the type species of the genus Cordyceps. It was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as Clavaria militaris.[1]

Description[]

Macroscopic characteristics[]

The fungus forms 1–8 cm high, club-shaped[2] and orange/red fruiting bodies, which grow out of dead underground pupae. The club is covered with the , into which the actual fruit bodies, the perithecia, are inserted. The surface appears roughly punctured. The inner fungal tissue is whitish to pale orange.

Microscopic features[]

The spores are smooth, hyaline, long-filiform, and often septate. They decompose to maturity in 3–7 μm × 1–1.2 μm subpores. The asci are long and cylindrical. Sometimes an anamorphic state, which is Isaria, is found. Masses of white mycelia form around the parasitised insect; however, these may not be of the same species.

Ecology and dispersal[]

Cordyceps militaris is a entomopathogenic fungus, meaning it parasitizes insects. Many authors consider it quite common, spread throughout the northern hemisphere,[3] and fruiting bodies appear in Europe from August to November.

Cultivation and use[]

A jar of dry C. militaris fruiting body.

C. militaris can be cultivated in a variety of media, including silkworm pupae, rice, and liquid nutrition.[4][5] It is considered inedible or "probably edible" by North American field guides.[6][2] In Asia the fruiting body is cooked as a mushroom in dishes like chicken soup[7] and hot pot.

C. militaris is a potential harbourer of bio-metabolites for herbal drugs and there is evidence from ancient times for its applications for revitalization of various systems of the body.[8] In traditional Chinese medicine, this fungus can serve as a cheap substitute for Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Both contain cordycepin.[4]

C. militaris contains a protein CMP18 which induces apoptosis in vitro via a mitochondrion-dependent pathway. It is thought that it might be toxic when eaten. Cooking destroys this protein.[9]

Distribution area[]

In June 2019, researchers discovered Cordyceps militaris at an altitude of 2500m in Hoàng Liên National Park Sa Pa- Lao Cai, Vietnam.[citation needed][10]

Similar species[]

Cordyceps in the wild has more than 400 different species.[citation needed] Similar species include Cordyceps sobolifera, Elaphocordyceps capitata, and Elaphocordyceps ophioglossoides.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ "GSD Species Synonymy: Cordyceps militaris (L.) Fr". Species Fungorum. CAB International. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
  2. ^ a b c Davis, R. Michael; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John A. (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 381–382. ISBN 978-0-520-95360-4. OCLC 797915861.
  3. ^ Pilz des Jahres 2007: Cordyceps militaris (L.) Link, Puppenkernkeule
  4. ^ a b Lu, Yi; Zhi, Yuee; Miyakawa, Takuya; Tanokura, Masaru (2019-05-22). "Metabolic profiling of natural and cultured Cordyceps by NMR spectroscopy". Scientific Reports. 9 (1). doi:10.1038/s41598-019-44154-x.
  5. ^ "CN102626036A 一种蛹虫草子实体的规模化栽培方法和质量检测方法" [A method for large-scale cultivation of C. militaris fruiting bodies and quality testing thereof]. Google Patents (in Chinese). 2012-04-24.
  6. ^ Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 379. ISBN 978-1-55407-651-2.
  7. ^ "虫草花淮山杞子鸡汤". 心食谱.
  8. ^ Das, Shonkor Kumar; Masuda, Mina; Sakurai, Akihiko; Sakakibara, Mikio (2010). "Medicinal uses of the mushroom Cordyceps militaris: Current state and prospects". Fitoterapia. 81 (8): 961–968. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2010.07.010. PMID 20650308.
  9. ^ Bai, Ke-Chun; Sheu, Fuu (January 2018). "A novel protein from edible fungi Cordyceps militaris that induces apoptosis". Journal of Food and Drug Analysis. 26 (1): 21–30. doi:10.1016/j.jfda.2016.10.013.
  10. ^ Phung Thi, Ly. "Cordyceps militaris". Chuyên trang nghiên cứu về đông trùng hạ thảo tự nhiên Việt Nam.

External links[]

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