The effects of environmental and nutritional requirement such as temperature, pH, different media, carbon, nitrogen, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio on the mycelial growth of Cordyceps militaris strain ‘Yedang 3’ were studied. The optimum temperature and pH for the growth of mycelium were 20-25oC and pH 6-7, respectively. Out of ten media tested, mushroom complete media (MCM) was the best medium for fast mycelial growth, and Sabouraud’s dextrose agar yeast extract (SDAY), malt extract yeast extract agar (YMA) also were favored. The color and shape of colonies varied in different media. The best carbon sources for mycelial growth were fructose, mannitol, and sucrose, whereas the best nitrogen sources were tryptone and peptone. However, mycelia grew slowly in inorganic nitrogen compounds such as NH4Cl, (NH4)2SO4, NH4NO3, and NaNO3. The optimum C:N ratio observed on the culture media was 30-40 range. These results provided basic information on cultural characteristics of vegetative growth and might be useful for spawn production in Cordyceps militaris.

기존의 번데기동충하초의 자실체 생산은 자연계에서 채집된 버섯의 조직을 분리하거나 다중의 포자를 이용하는 방법이 대표적이었으나 본 연구를 수행한 결과, 단포자를 선발한 후 교배조합에 의한 F1균주를 이용한 배양이 안정적임을 확인 할 수 있었다. 단포자의 특성으로는 자실체의 형성이 양호하며 균주의 안정성이 우수한 균주를 선발하고 조합형성능이 우수한 균주를 선발하여야 한다. 본 연구를 통하여 06S05의 단포자를 획득하였으며 06S05x06S01, 06S05x06S33균주를 선발하였으며 06S05x06S33균주를 예당 3호로 명명하여 국립종자원에 품종보호 등록되었다.