Ganoderma applanatum

Ganoderma applanatum is parasitic and saprophytic,{{Cite book |last=Goldman |first=Gary B. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1117322804 |title=Field Guide to Mushrooms & Other Fungi in South Africa |date=2019 |publisher=Struik Nature |others=Marieka Gryzenhout |isbn=978-1-77584-654-3 |location=Cape Town, South Africa |oclc=1117322804}} and grows as a mycelium within the wood of living and dead trees. It grows in single, scattered, or compound formations. It forms fruiting bodies that are {{Convert|3–30|cm|abbr=off|frac=2}} wide, {{Convert|5–50|cm|abbr=on|frac=2}} long and {{Convert|1–10|cm|abbr=on|frac=2}} thick, hard as leather, and woody-textured.{{cite book|last=Meuninck|first=Jim|title=Foraging Mushrooms Oregon: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Mushrooms|date=2017|publisher=Falcon Guides|isbn=978-1-4930-2669-2|page=46}} The upper surface of the fruiting body appears brown,{{Cite book |last=Audubon |title=Mushrooms of North America |publisher=Knopf |year=2023 |isbn=978-0-593-31998-7 |pages=272}} covered with reddish-brown conidia. The underside is white but stains brown.

The fruiting bodies are perennial, and may persist for multiple years, increasing in size and forming new layers of pores as they grow. These layers can be distinguished in a cross section or from observation of the concentric rings on the upper surface of the fruiting body.{{Cite book |last=Atkinson |first=George Francis |url=http://archive.org/details/studiesofamerica00atki |title=Studies of American fungi. Mushrooms, edible, poisonous, etc. |date=1901 |publisher=Andrus & Church |location=Ithaca, NY |doi=10.5962/bhl.title.120494}} This allows the fruiting body's age to be determined using the same method as tree rings.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

Brown spores are released from the pores on the underside of the fruiting body. The spores are highly concentrated, and as many as 4.65 billion spores can be dispersed from a {{Convert|10|cm|abbr=on|frac=2}} by 10 cm section of the conk within 24 hours.{{cite web|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5320331.pdf|title=White Mottled Rot|website=Fs.usda.gov|access-date=2022-03-21}} The tubes are {{Convert|4–12|mm|frac=8}} deep and terminate in pores that are round with 4–6 per millimetre. The spore print is reddish brown.

The similar Ganoderma brownii has thicker, darker flesh, often a yellow pore surface, and larger spores than G. applanatum. G. oregonense, G. lucidum, and Fomitopsis pinicola are also similar.{{Cite book|last1=Davis|first1=R. Michael|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/797915861|title=Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America|last2=Sommer|first2=Robert|last3=Menge|first3=John A.|publisher=University of California Press|year=2012|isbn=978-0-520-95360-4|location=Berkeley|pages=348|oclc=797915861}} Fomes fasciatus produces a white spore print.

G. applanatum is a wood-decay fungus, causing a rot of heartwood in a variety of trees. It can also grow as a pathogen of live sapwood, particularly on older trees that are sufficiently wet. It is a common cause of decay and death of beech and poplar, and less often of several other tree genera, including alder, apple, elm, buckeye and horse chestnut, maple, oak, live oak, walnut, willow, western hemlock, Douglas fir, old or sick olive tree, and spruce. G. applanatum grows more often on dead trees than living ones.{{Cite book |last=Biek |first=David |title=The mushrooms of northern California |date=1984 |publisher=Spore Prints |isbn=0-9612020-0-9 |location=Redding, CA |oclc=10870632}}

There are anecdotal references of higher primates consuming this fungus for self-medication.{{cite journal |last1=COUSINS |first1=Don |last2=HUFFMAN |first2=Michael A. |date=June 2002 |title=Medicinal Properties in the Diet of Gorillas: An Ethno-Pharmacological Evaluation |url=http://repository.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2433/68214/1/ASM_23_65.pdf |journal=African Study Monographs |volume=23 |issue=2 |page=71 |doi=10.14989/68214 |s2cid=52244011}} In her book Gorillas in the Mist (1983), Dian Fossey wrote:

Still another special food (for the gorillas) is bracket fungus (Ganoderma applanatum)... The shelflike projection is difficult to break free, so younger animals often have to wrap their arms and legs awkwardly around a trunk and content themselves by only gnawing at the delicacy. Older animals who succeed in breaking the fungus loose have been observed carrying it several hundred feet from its source, all the while guarding it possessively from more dominant individuals' attempts to take it away. Both the scarcity of the fungus and the gorillas' liking of it cause many intragroup squabbles, a number of which are settled by the silverback, who simply takes the item of contention for himself.{{cite book |last1=Fossey |first1=Dian |title=Gorillas in the Mist |date=1983 |publisher=Mariner Books |isbn=9780395282175 |page=52}}

File:Ganoderma applanatum03.jpg (black objects) of Agathomyia wankowiczii on an artist's bracket fungus]]

The midge Agathomyia wankowiczii lays its eggs on the fruiting body of the fungus, forming galls.{{cite book |author1=Brian Spooner |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_l_wAAAAMAAJ |title=Fungi |author2=Peter Roberts |date=1 April 2005 |publisher=Collins |isbn=978-0-00-220152-0 |page=126 |access-date=31 January 2012}} Female forked fungus beetles, Bolitotherus cornutus lay their eggs on the surface of the fruiting bodies and the larvae live inside of the fruiting bodies of G. applanatum and a few other bracket fungi.{{cite journal |last1=Liles |first1=M.P. |date=1956 |title=A study of the life history of the forked fungus beetle, Bolitotherus cornutus |journal=Ohio J Sci |volume=56 |pages=329–337 |hdl=1811/4397/V56N06_329.pdf}} Meanwhile, the fly Hirtodrosophila mycetophaga courts and mates entirely on the underside of dark fungi.{{Cite web |title=The Evolutionary Biology of Colonizing Species - PDF Free Download |url=https://epdf.pub/the-evolutionary-biology-of-colonizing-species074123ee305e1169d74a87ccd0c5537469973.html |access-date=2019-11-18 |website=Epdf.pub |language=en}}

File:Ganoderma applanatum with a drawing of Boletus pinophilus on it.jpg of G. applanatum]]

A peculiarity of this fungus lies in its use as a drawing medium for artists.{{Cite web|date=2015-01-12|title=Ganoderma applanatum: The Artist's Conk |website=The Fungal Kingdom |url=http://blogs.evergreen.edu/fungalkingdom/ganoderma-applanatum-the-artists-conk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112034350/http://blogs.evergreen.edu/fungalkingdom/ganoderma-applanatum-the-artists-conk/ |archive-date=2015-01-12 |access-date=2021-10-27}} When the fresh white pore surface is rubbed or scratched with a sharp implement, dark brown tissue under the pores is revealed, resulting in visible lines and shading that become permanent once the fungus is dried. This practice is what gives G. applanatum its common name.

G. applanatum is a medicinal farming crop that is used as a flavor enhancer in Asian cuisine. G. applanatum is non-digestible in its raw form, but is considered edible when cooked.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}} Hot herbal soups, or fermentation in lemon acid with onion is a common use for cooking with G. applanatum slices as an umami flavor enhancer in fermented foods. G. applanatum can also be used in tea.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

G. applanatum has been used to produce amadou, although Fomes fomentarius is most commonly associated with its production.{{Cite web|last=Sundström|first=Lisa|title=Fnöske - Naturhistoriska riksmuseet|url=https://www.nrm.se/faktaomnaturenochrymden/vaxter/kryptogamer/manadenskryptogam/svampar/fnosktickan/fnoske.1097.html|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Nrm.se|language=sv}} Amadou is a leathery, easily flammable material that is produced from different polypores, but can also be consist of similar material.{{Cite web|title=fnöske {{!}} SAOB|url=https://www.saob.se/artikel/?seek=Fn%C3%B6ske|access-date=2021-11-08|language=sv-SE}} Amadou generally has three areas of use: fire making, medicinal,{{Cite journal|last=Molitoris|first=H. P.|date=1994-04-01|title=Mushrooms in medicine|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02906801|journal=Folia Microbiologica|language=en|volume=39|issue=2|pages=91–98|doi=10.1007/BF02906801|pmid=7959435|s2cid=19354468|issn=1874-9356|url-access=subscription}} and clothing,{{Cite web|last=Sundström|first=Lisa|title=Fnösktickan, Fomes fomentarius, och dess användningsområden|url=https://www.nrm.se/faktaomnaturenochrymden/vaxter/kryptogamer/manadenskryptogam/svampar/fnosktickan.1893.html|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Nrm.se|language=sv}} however, it is mostly associated with fire making.{{Cite web|title=Göra eld med fnöske|url=http://www.bioresurs.uu.se/bilagan/pdf/xBilagan_2008_eld_fnoske.pdf|url-status=live|archive-date=21 December 2014|website=Bioresurs.uu.se|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221095142/http://www.bioresurs.uu.se/bilagan/pdf/xBilagan_2008_eld_fnoske.pdf}}{{Cite book|title=Nationalencyklopedin 1991|year=1991|pages=450|language=Swedish}}

Medicinal use of G. applanatum has been extensive over thousands of years.{{Cite journal|last1=Elkhateeb|first1=Waill A.|last2=Zaghlol|first2=Gihan M.|last3=El-Garawani|first3=Islam M.|last4=Ahmed|first4=Eman F.|last5=Rateb|first5=Mostafa E.|last6=Abdel Moneim|first6=Ahmed E.|date=2018-05-01|title=Ganoderma applanatum secondary metabolites induced apoptosis through different pathways: In vivo and in vitro anticancer studies|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332217369263|journal=Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy|language=en|volume=101|pages=264–277|doi=10.1016/j.biopha.2018.02.058|pmid=29494964|s2cid=4639322 |issn=0753-3322|url-access=subscription}} In Chinese medicine this fungus has been used to treat rheumatic tuberculosis and esophageal carcinoma. It has also been used more commonly to resolve indigestion, relieve pain and reduce phlegm.{{Cite journal|journal=Chemotherapy|doi=10.1159/000094866|title = Investigation of Potential Antibacterial Properties of Methanol Extracts from Fungus Ganoderma applanatum|year = 2006|last1 = Moradali|first1 = Mohammad-Fata|last2 = Mostafavi|first2 = Hossien|last3 = Hejaroude|first3 = Ghorban-Ali|last4 = Tehrani|first4 = Abbas Sharifi|last5 = Abbasi|first5 = Mehrdad|last6 = Ghods|first6 = Shirin|volume = 52|issue = 5|pages = 241–244|pmid = 16899973|s2cid = 24881421}} Further studies have shown that its medicinal qualities also include anti-tumor, anti-oxidation and as a regulator for body immunity.

G. applanatum is known in Japan as kofuki-saru-no-koshikake (コフキサルノコシカケ),{{cite web |title=kofuki- saru-no-koshikake (コフキサルノコシカケ) |url=http://mikawanoyasou.org/kinoko/kohukisarunokosikake.htm |access-date=3 March 2016 |website=Flora of Mikawa}}{{Cite journal |last1=Mizuno |first1=Takashi |year=1995 |title=Sarunokoshikake: Polyporaecea fungi-kofukisarunokoshikake, ganoderma applanatum and tsugasarunokoshikake, fomitopsis pinicola |journal=Food Reviews International |volume=11 |pages=129–133 |doi=10.1080/87559129509541023}} literally meaning "powder-covered monkey's bench", and in China as shu-she-ling-zhi (树舌灵芝), where it has long been used in traditional medicines.{{cite web |title=About Asian Anti-Cancer Materia Database |url=http://www.asiancancerherb.info/Shu%20She.htm |website=Asiancancerherb.info |access-date=2016-03-06 |archive-date=2018-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102131203/http://asiancancerherb.info/Shu%20She.htm |url-status=dead }} Studies have shown G. applanatum contains compounds with potent anti-tumor,{{cite web |last1=MIZUNO |first1=TAKASHI |display-authors=etal |title=Isolation and characterization of antitumor active β-d-glucans from the fruit bodies of Ganoderma applanatum |url=http://thirdworld.nl/isolation-and-characterization-of-antitumor-active-b-d-glucans-from-the-fruit-bodies-of-ganoderma-applanatum |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308033701/http://thirdworld.nl/isolation-and-characterization-of-antitumor-active-b-d-glucans-from-the-fruit-bodies-of-ganoderma-applanatum |archive-date=8 March 2016 |access-date=3 March 2016 |publisher=Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam - Printed in The Netherlands}}{{Cite journal |last1=Taichi Usui |display-authors=et al |year=2014 |title=Antitumor Activity of Water-Soluble β-D-Glucan Elaborated by Ganoderma applanatum |journal=Agricultural and Biological Chemistry |volume=45 |pages=323–326 |doi=10.1080/00021369.1981.10864512}}{{cite journal |last1=Chairul |last2=Tokuyama |first2=Takashi |last3=Hayashi |first3=Yoshinori |last4=Nishizawa |first4=Mugio |last5=Tokuda |first5=Harukuni |last6=Chairul |first6=Sofni M. |last7=Hayashi |first7=Yuji |date=26 March 1991 |title=Applanoxidic acids A, B, C and D, biologically active tetracyclic triterpenes from Ganoderma applanatum |journal=Phytochemistry |volume=30 |issue=12 |pages=4105–4109 |bibcode=1991PChem..30.4105C |doi=10.1016/0031-9422(91)83476-2}} antibacterial{{cite journal |last1=Smania |first1=Jr |last2=Monache |first2=Franco Delie |last3=Smania |first3=Elza de Fatima Albino |last4=Cuneo |first4=Rodrigo S. |year=1999 |title=Antibacterial Activity of Steroidal Compounds Isolated from Ganoderma applanatum |journal=International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms |volume=1, 1999 Issue 4 |issue=4 |pages=325–330 |doi=10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v1.i4.40}}{{cite journal |last1=Osińska-Jaroszuk |first1=Monika |last2=Jaszek |first2=Magdalena |last3=Mizerska-Dudka |first3=Magdalena |last4=Błachowicz |first4=Adriana |last5=Rejczak |first5=Tomasz Piotr |last6=Janusz |first6=Grzegorz |last7=Wydrych |first7=Jerzy |last8=Polak |first8=Jolanta |last9=Jarosz-Wilkołazka |first9=Anna |last10=Kandefer-Szerszeń |first10=Martyna |date=July 2014 |title=Exopolysaccharide from Ganoderma applanatum as a Promising Bioactive Compound with Cytostatic and Antibacterial Properties |journal=BioMed Research International |volume=2014 |page=743812 |doi=10.1155/2014/743812 |pmc=4120920 |pmid=25114920 |doi-access=free}} anti-fibrotic{{cite journal |last1=Luo |first1=Q |last2=Di |first2=L |last3=Dai |first3=WF |last4=Lu |first4=Q |last5=Yan |first5=YM |last6=Yang |first6=ZL |last7=Li |first7=RT |last8=Cheng |first8=YX |date=February 23, 2015 |title=Applanatumin A, a new dimeric meroterpenoid from Ganoderma applanatum that displays potent antifibrotic activity |journal=Org. Lett. |volume=17 |issue=5 |pages=1110–3 |doi=10.1021/ol503610b |pmid=25706347}} properties.

G. applanatum is generally studied from three angles: medicinal, phytopathological, and biotechnological.{{Cite journal|last1=Ćilerdžić|first1=Jasmina|last2=Stajić|first2=Mirjana|last3=Vukojević|first3=Jelena|date=2016-10-01|title=Degradation of wheat straw and oak sawdust by Ganoderma applanatum|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964830516301834|journal=International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation|language=en|volume=114|pages=39–44|doi=10.1016/j.ibiod.2016.05.024|bibcode=2016IBiBi.114...39C |issn=0964-8305|url-access=subscription}} Medicinal fungi such as G. applanatum are of special interest due to their antibiotic properties. Methanol extracts from G. applanatum have shown that the fatty acids present, such as palmitic acid, show antibacterial properties.Moradali M, -F, Mostafavi H, Hejaroude G, -A, Tehrani A, S, Abbasi M, Ghods S: Investigation of Potential Antibacterial Properties of Methanol Extracts from Fungus Ganoderma applanatum. Chemotherapy 2006;52:241-244. doi: 10.1159/000094866 Compared to synthetic antibiotics these compounds extracted from G. applanatum lack problems of drug resistance and side effects.

• Forest pathology
• Medicinal mushrooms

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{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Ganoderma applanatum|Ganoderma applanatum}}
• Phillips, D. H., & Burdekin, D. A. (1992). Diseases of Forest and Ornamental Trees. Macmillan.
• [http://www.nifg.org.uk/species/atlas2.htm?item=NBNSYS0000020961 Ganoderma applanatum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204090034/http://www.nifg.org.uk/species/atlas2.htm?item=NBNSYS0000020961 |date=2012-02-04 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927224337/http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~5941.asp Ganoderma applanatum]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071015104106/http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/march99.html Photographs of the fungus, including one used as a drawing surface]
• [http://www.naturallist.com/fungifun.htm Several drawings created on these fungi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202011846/http://www.naturallist.com/fungifun.htm |date=2015-02-02 }}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q774576}}

applanatum

Category:Fungi of Europe

Category:Fungi of North America

Category:Inedible fungi

Category:Taxa named by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon

Category:Visual arts materials

Category:Fungi used for fiber dyes

Category:Fungus species