Morphological characterization of Lentinulla edodes hybrid strains obtained by intraspecific mating

Abstract

Mushroom production started in 1960s and expended rapidly in the 1990s but mushroom as a vegetable is yet to find regular place in the Indian agri-food landscape. Among various cultivated species of mushrooms, shiitake mushroom has a good demand among consumers particularly in northern India due to its numerous beneficial properties like its taste and medicinal value. Presently, the China and Japan are the bulk producers of this prized mushroom. The current study attempted to generate improved strains of L. edodes by using intraspecific hybridization. Each of the five parent monokaryotic mycelia (LE-1501, LE-1502, LE-1503, LE1504 and LE-1505) were mated with the remaining four monokaryons resulting in a total 10 mating. Out of 10, only 5 compatible mating strains (Hybrid Spore Pair 1-2, 1-4, 2-3, 3-4 and 4-5) were generated in which clamp connections were confirmed. The significant variations among the newly generated hybrids were identified by morphological visualization. Among five, only three hybrids are totally different from the parents. The strain HSP 1-2 expressed co-dominance by producing distorted, creamy white and honey brown pileus having white scars observed on some of the fruits with stumpy stipe. While hemispherical, light brown cap with flat, thin and irregular margin was the characteristics of HSP 2-3 and the strain HSP 4-5 produced distorted spherical, dull white cap with white scars uniformly distributed from outside. This research involved a successful initial attempt to use a broad range of analyses and breeding to generate superior hybrids of L. edodes.