Screening of Basidiomycetes for the production of exopolysaccharide and biomass in submerged culture

Fifty-six strains of Basidiomycetes, including native Brazilian fungi isola ted from different ecosystems and edible mushrooms, were screened for produ ction of exopolysaccharides and biomass in submerged culture. Agaricus sp. (CCB 280) and Oudemansiella canarii (Jungh.) Hohn (CCB 179) were the highes t exopolysaccharide producers (6.01 and 3.54 g dry w./l respectively) after 7 days of incubation. The best producer of biomass was Schizophyllum commu ne Fr.:Fr. (CCB 473) with 16.68 g dry w./l in 14 days of incubation. When t he culture filtrate was submitted to freezing prior to polysaccharide preci pitation, a gelatinous fraction was formed.