A rare wild-Serbian Ganoderma applanatum strain BGS6Ap (GASB) was morphologically identified based on its basidiocarp with brownish-red cap and woody stipe. Molecularly, GASB DNA was extracted, sequenced (651 bp) and subjected to phylogenetic analysis with evolutionary distance (Knuc). A plasmid Editor (ApE) software was used to verify the sequence and GASB was found to be 99% similarity to the commercial G. applanatum (GA) ATCC44053. The production of GASB's biomass and endopolysaccharide (ENS) in different temperature was screened at 20 °C, 25 °C and 30 °C via one-factor-at-a-time (OFAAT) scheme in a submerged liquid fermentation (SLF). Lower temperature was chosen due to GASB's natural habitat, which belongs to temperate continental climates with the influence of air currents from the Carpathians and the Mediterranean. Using the OFAAT data, the SLF was further optimised using response surface methodology (RSM) to generate biomass-ENS based on temperature (20°C–30 °C), agitation rate (100–200 rpm), glucose concentration (10 g/L–50 g/L) and initial pH (4–6). The highest production of biomass (17.51 g/L) and ENS (3.47 g/L) was generated using optimal conditions of 25 °C, 150 rpm, 10 g/L of glucose and pH 6. To study the structural composition, ENS confirmed spectral linkages in FTIR (2925 cm−1, 1623 cm−1, 1073 cm−1, 890 cm−1) and NMR (δ 4.30, 4.80, 5.20 ppm) as endo-β-D-glucan. This approach could serve as a blueprint for novel mycelial biomass and endo-β-D-glucan production of GASB which can be further studied on different temperate basidiomycetes.

Conventional stirred-tank bioreactor (STR) designs are optimised for cultures of bacteria but not fungal cultures; therefore, a new Air-L-Shaped Bioreactor (ALSB) was fabricated. The ALSB was designed to eliminate the wall growth and clumping of fungal mycelium in STRs. Ganoderma lucidum was used as a fungal model and its biomass and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production were maximised by optimising the agitation rate, glucose concentration, initial pH, and aeration via response surface methodology (RSM). The ALSB system generated 7.8 g/L of biomass (biomass optimised conditions: 110 rpm, 24 g/L glucose, pH 5.6, and 3 v/v of aeration) and 4.4 g/L of EPS (EPS optimised conditions: 90 rpm, 30 g/L glucose, pH 4, and 2.5 v/v of aeration). In combination, for both optimised conditions, biomass (7.9 g/L) and EPS (4.6 g/L) were produced at 110 rpm, 30 g/L glucose, pH 4, and 3 v/v of aeration with minimal wall growth. The data prove that the ALSB is a blueprint for efficient economical fungal cultivation.

ScMBK is a laboratory-scale bioreactor functioning with the fundamental parameters of industrial-scale bioreactors (airflow, impeller) which easily demonstrate microbial growth to secondary school students. Based on verse 10:61 in the Al-Quran, Allah stated that He controls the microorganisms invisible to the naked eye up to the atomic level proven since the creation of the microscope. Previous research reported the importance of microorganisms and fermentation technology in human product development. The introduction of microorganism and fermentation technology is easily understandable by conducting exhibitions and demonstrations towards secondary school students using the invented ScMBK. ScMBK is an efficient approach to attract high school students to endeavour in the science stream and enhance the interest in the biotechnology research field. Coinciding with Chapter 6 of Form 5 Science Subjects related to food technology and manufacturing, the development of this knowledge was shifted to kit bioreactor innovations that apply microorganism fermentation technology in the production of food products such as cultural beverages, antibiotics, food preservatives and even pharmaceutical products such as vaccines and alcohol. This innovation aims to increase the transfer of knowledge among secondary students in the field of biology and biotechnology by creating a school-scale microbial bioreactor kit (ScMBK).