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Breeding and Screening of Lentinula edodes Strains Resistant to Trichoderma spp.

Summary

This research focused on developing disease-resistant shiitake mushroom strains to combat harmful Trichoderma fungi that cause significant crop losses in mushroom cultivation. Scientists successfully bred several resistant strains through genetic crossing techniques, providing a potential solution to protect mushroom crops. Impacts on everyday life: • More reliable shiitake mushroom production for consumers • Potential reduction in crop losses for mushroom farmers • Improved food security through better disease resistance • More sustainable mushroom cultivation with less need for chemical controls • Potential for lower mushroom prices due to improved production efficiency

Background

The shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) cultivation faces significant crop losses due to Trichoderma species infections. Trichoderma fungi, while beneficial as biocontrol agents for some plant pathogens, can attack and kill shiitake mycelium by producing antifungal substances and mycolytic enzymes. Current control methods have proven ineffective, creating a need for resistant strain development.

Objective

To breed shiitake mushroom strains resistant to Trichoderma species using di-mon mating and establish an effective method for controlling greenmold disease. The study aimed to examine the competitive ability of L. edodes against Trichoderma species using a dual culture system to select resistant strains.

Results

Among 11 parental strains, 4 strains including KFRI 36 showed strong resistance to T. harzianum, forming deadlock after mycelial contact and then invading Trichoderma territory. KFRI 171 demonstrated resistance to T. atroviride strains. Of the 13 hybrid strains created, 5 showed resistance to Trichoderma, including KFRI 58-1. The resistance patterns in hybrid strains did not correlate with their parent strains’ resistance activities. SEM observation revealed that L. edodes mycelium became rugged and swollen at the interaction zone with T. harzianum.

Conclusion

The study successfully developed several shiitake strains with resistance to Trichoderma species through di-mon breeding. The resistance mechanism appears to involve mechanical barriers and melanin formation in the antithetic zone line. The inheritance of resistance traits was not dominant in hybrid strains, suggesting complex genetic mechanisms requiring further investigation.
  • Published in:Mycobiology,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.4489/MYCO.2008.36.4.270
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