RT Journal Article ID 1e63da0f342da84a A1 Chen, Anhui A1 Wang, Yulong A1 Shao, Ying A1 Huang, Bo T1 A Novel Technique for Rejuvenation of Degenerated Caterpillar Medicinal Mushroom, Cordyceps militaris (Ascomycetes), a Valued Traditional Chinese Medicine JF International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms JO IJM YR 2017 FD 2017-03-06 VO 19 IS 1 SP 87 OP 91 K1 Cordyceps militaris K1 cross-mating K1 degenerated strain K1 fruit body K1 medicinal mushrooms K1 rejuvenation AB Cordyceps militaris has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many years, but its frequent degeneration during continuous maintenance in culture can lead to substantial commercial losses. In this study, a degenerated strain of C. militaris was obtained by subculturing a wild-type strain through 10 successive subcultures. The relative abundance of the 2 mating types seems to be out of balance in the degenerated strain. By cross-mating 4 single-ascospore isolates (2 for MAT 1-1 and 2 for MAT 1-2) from the degenerated strain, we were able to restore fruiting body production to wild-type levels. The rejuvenated strain not only produced well-developed fruiting bodies but also accumulated more cordycepin and adenosine than either the original wild-type strain or the degenerated strain. These new characteristics remained stable after 4 successive transfers, which indicates that the method used to rejuvenate the degenerated strain in this study is an effective approach. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/708ae68d64b17c52,7cc3420179d0cddd,1e63da0f342da84a.html