Mycobiology.
2010 Dec;38(4):282-285.
Heterothallic Type of Mating System for Cordyceps cardinalis
- Affiliations
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- 1Mushroom Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-707, Korea.
- 2Green Energy Mission/Nepal, Anam Nagar, Kathmandu P.O. Box 10647, Nepal.
- 3Division of Forest Biodiversity, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon 487-820, Korea.
- 4Donghae Agricultural Technology Center, Donghae 240-030, Korea.
- 5Cordyceps Institute of Mushtech, Chuncheon 200-936, Korea. cordyceps@hanmail.net
Abstract
- Cordyceps cardinalis successfully produced its fruiting bodies from multi-ascospore isolates. However, subcultures of multi-ascospore isolates could not produce fruiting bodies after few generations. Fruiting body production also differed from sector to sector of the same isolate. Single ascospore isolates were then co-inoculated in combinations of two to observe the fruiting characteristics. Combinations of certain isolates produced perithecial stromata formation, whereas other combinations did not produce any fruiting bodies. These results show that C. cardinalis is a heterothallic fungus, requiring two isolates of opposite mating types for fruiting body production. It was also shown that single ascospore isolates are hermaphrodites.