Abstract: Lentinan (LN) is a very important immunomodulator. The characteristics of p roducing LN of
monokaryontic mycelia developed from the basidiospores have not been reported. Our research demonstrated
that the monokaryontic mycelia colonies developed from basidiospores of Lentinula edodes 939 could be classified into four types: type S, sticking; type A, app ressed; type R, rare and thin; type H, fine hair. The four
types of the monokaryontic mycelia could divide into two group s based on the LN yield by shaking flack cultivation. The first group included type S and R where LN p roduction was similar to that of the dikaryotic mycelia; the second group included type A and H where LN p roduction was significantly lower than that of the first
group. The nutrition and environment required for p roducing LN of monokaryontic mycelia S1 of type S were
basically similar to that of its parent dikaryotic mycelia. However same as glucose, the easily utilized C
sources, such as sucrose and maltose, disp layed strong rep ression on S1 for p roducing LN butweak rep ression
on dikaryotic mycelia. Monokaryontic mycelia were not as sensitive to high dissolved oxygen as dikaryotic mycelia which could be considerably repressed. An initial lower pH of liquid media did not p rofit dikaryotic mycelia to produce LN, but had little effect on monokaryontic mycelia.

Key words: Lentinula edodes, Monokaryontic mycelia, Dikaryotic mycelia, Lentinan