Screening of Semi-solid Culture Conditions of Armillaria mellea A9

[Objectives]This study was conducted to optimize the germplasm resources of Gastrodia elata and improve the condition of declining G.elata production.[Methods]A scientific and reasonable method was used to screen the optimum nutritional conditions(carbon sources,nitrogen sources,microelements,vitamins)and environmental conditions(pH,temperature,light)of Armillaria mellea A9 growth,so as to screen the medium suitable for the growth of A.mellea.[Results]Under the semi-solid culture condition,the suitable pH range of A.mellea mycelia was 4.0-9.0;the temperature was about 25℃;and the light condition was dark culture.Under the experimental conditions,the optimal carbon source was 25 g/L ethanol;the optimal nitrogen source was 2.5 g/L soy peptone;and the optimum microelement and vitamin were 0.5 g/L MnSO 4,0.5 g/L MgSO 4 and 20 mg/L vitamin B6,respectively.After screening,the growth rate of A.mellea rhizomorph was as high as 13.52 mm/d,and the dry weight of mycelium also reached 0.296 7 g.[Conclusions]This study not only omitted a lot of tedious experiments,but also obtained reliable and scientific experimental results,and achieved the purpose of rejuvenating A.mellea,which is conducive to the further development and utilization of G.elata and its symbiotic fungi.

Walking the thin line…ten years later:the dilemma of aboveversus below-ground features to support phylogenies in the Russulaceae(Basidiomycota)

For the very first time,morpho-anatomical features of both fruiting bodies as well as below-ground structures have been confronted with a newly produced multigene phylogeny of root symbiotic basidiomycetes using one of the most speciose genera of ectomycorrhizal fungi(Russula,Russulales)as an example.In this first of two papers,the authors focus more specifically on below-ground structures.Our five-gene phylogeny divides the genus in five main clades,here interpreted as representing seven subgenera,all significantly supported.Although more conserved than features of fruiting bodies,the anatomy of ectomycorrhiza does not allow for an unambiguous characterization of the main clades resolved by phylogenetic analysis,but the anatomy of ectomycorrhiza performs better to naturally classify the species of this genus.Features of fruiting bodies remain much more adequate for the delimitation of terminal clades and are irreplaceable for morphological species identification.Tropical taxa mostly nest in ancient lineages,but are also present in some terminal clades of otherwise temperate species groups.The shift from plectenchymatic to pseudoparenchymatic ECM outer mantle structures happened most likely already in the paleotropics,and is here hypothesized to have facilitated a major diversification of the genus with new hosts in the northern hemisphere.Available data as well as our own observations on below ground structures of several Lactifluus species suggests that this genus shares with Russula the absence of lactifers in ECM mantles and rhizomorphs,contrary to species of Lactarius where lactifers are always present.First observations on rhizomorphs of species in Multifurca confirm the presence of vessel-like and ladder-like hyphae,also found in the other agarioid genera of this family,while distinct lactifers are only present in the lactarioid,but not in russuloid members of this genus.

A global review of the ecological significance of symbiotic associations between birds and fungi

Symbiotic associations between mammals and fungi have been well documented and are widely regarded as vital to ecosystem functions around the world.Symbioses between birds and fungi are also ecologically vital but have been far less thoroughly studied.This manuscript is the first to review a wide range of symbiotic associations between birds and fungi.We compile the largest list to date of bird species reported to eat fungi(54 bird species in 27 families)and follow up with a discussion of these symbioses and suggestions for how future studies can determine the prevalence of associations between birds and fungi.We review the importance of fungi for cavity-excavating birds and show that at least 30 bird species in three families form varying levels of associations with fungi for cavity excavation.We also review the use of fungal rhizomorphs in nest construction and show that 176 bird species in 37 families use fungal material in their nests.All of these interactions have wide-reaching ecosystem implications,particularly in regard to fungal dispersal and biogeography,plant health,ecosystem function,bird nutrition/fitness and bird behaviour.