Summary
In the edible white rot fungus Agrocybe aegerita the threshold from mycelial growth to fruit body formation is under control of a single gene in both monokaryons and dikaryons.
The allele su opens the pathway for fruiting and allows the subsequent expression of the fruiter genes fi+ (fruit body initials) and fb + (fruit bodies). Its allele, su +, suppresses monokaryotic fruiting completely and restricts dikaryotic fruiting drastically.
The detection of this threshold gene su +/su and its action and interactions has practical implication in that an opportunity for concerted breeding is created.
First results indicate that the fruiter genes are involved in two essential parameters of productivity. Both time of fruiting and biomass production depend on the two fruiter genes fi + and fb +.
Comparable results obtained with two other basidiomycetes suggest that the genetic control of fruiting in Agrocybe aegerita is a general mechanism which may be made use of in breeding work with other basidiomycetes of economic value.
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Communicated by H.F. Linskens