Intra-and interspecific protoplast fusion between some Pleurotus species.

Abstract

The basidiomycete, Pleurotus ostreatus, is one of the most widely cultivated mushrooms, and several related species, P. columbinus, P. pulmonarius, P. florida, etc., are also well known as edible mushrooms. Werecently reported the interspecific protoplast fusion between P. ostreatus and P. salmoneo-stramineus, which are sexually incompatible with each other.1} Thus, the protoplast fusion technique, which can facilitate interspecific hybridi-