Somatic embryogenesis and evaluation of variability in somatic seedlings of Quercus serrata by RAPD markers

Abstract

Ouercus serrata (Japanese white oak) (Fig. 1) is widely distributed as coppice and thicket forests in Japan and Korea. Q. serrata is diploid with 24 chromosomes. The acorns mature in one year. This species is the host of many insects like stag beetles (Allomyrina,Lucanus spp.). Dried log trees are used for log-bed for Shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodis) production which has now become a big industry. Black rot is a common disease of logs, and the infected logs prevent fruitbody or mushroom production. Hypocrea nigricans,H. muroiana and H. schweinitzii are the main organisms isolated from black rotted logs. High quality charcoal produced from this species has been well known for a long time. However, Ouercus forest area has decreased recently because of newly urbanization. Many clones of Q. serrata were selected as candidates for plus trees with good growth and high mushroom production on these log-beds. It is generally known that the mushroom production of the logs with smooth bark is larger than that with rough bark. Up to now, 253 plus trees were selected in Q. serrata and they are important for clonal propagation for developing seed orchards. Micropropagation from limited amount seeds of seed orchards is also preferable. Other Quercus species such as Q. acutissima and O. mongolica var. grosseserrata. are used as log-beds for growing mushroom in Japan.