Co-Culture with Two Soil Fungal Strains Enhances Growth and Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis in .

is a medicinal fungus with significant pharmacological value, but how soil microbes promote its growth remains unclear. We established a solid-state co-culture system involving synnemata and its native soil fungi of and . Both and significantly promoted synnematal growth and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. Total triterpenoid content increased substantially. markedly elevated levels of ergosterol peroxide, whereas boosted accumulation of L-arabinose, ergotamine, and euphol. Metabolomics revealed that both fungi activated key metabolic pathways (including ABC transporters, mineral absorption, and protein digestion/absorption). uniquely upregulated phenylalanine metabolism. This work elucidates the metabolic mechanisms underlying growth promotion of mediated by and as well as deciphers potential pharmacologically active metabolites. These findings provide a foundation for strategically improving artificial cultivation and developing functional microbial inoculants.