Physiological Characteristics of Symbiotic Fungi Associated with the Seed Germination of Gastrodia elata

This study was carried out to investigate the possibility for seeds germination of Gastrodia elata using symbiotic fungi. Since seeds of G. elata are very small and lack an endosperm and other nutrients, their germination is difficult without requirement for external nutrients. Out of twenty six isolates collected from protocorms of G. elata and roots of native orchids inhabited in wild, two strains (H-2 and H-21) were observed to stimulate the seed germination of G. elata. The seed germination of G. elata was excellent on oak tree leaves medium. The optimal conditions for mycelial growth of symbiotic fungi were 25degrees C and pH 6.0, respectively. The mycelial growth of H-2 strain was excellent on YMA medium, while H-21 was poor on PDA medium. In case of carbon sources, the mycelial growth of H-2 and H-21 was good on media supplemented with glucose and dextrin, respectively. Calcium nitrate was good for mycelial growth of H-2 strain as a nitrogen sources, whereas urea was effective to H-21 strain.

Cultural Characteristics of Veiled Lady Mushroom, Dictyophora spp

This study was carried out to obtain the basic data for artificial culture of veiled lady mushroom (Dictyophora spp). The optimal conditions for the mycelial growth were 25degrees C and pH 5.0 for all isolates except the optimal temperature of 30degrees C for D. echinovolvata ASI 32002 and Phallus rugulosus . The optimal medium for Dictyophora spp. was PBA (potato bamboo sawdust extract agar) medium. The strain ASI 32002, D. echinovolvata , grew faster than. D. indusiata ASI 32003 and Phallus rugulosus ASI 25007 on the medium. Carbon sources such as glucose, maltose and inuline were favorable for stimulating a mycelial growth of the two strains of ASI 32002 and ASI 32003. Asparagine and glutamine appeared to be favorable to the strain ASI 32002 and ASI 32003, where as alanine, one of nitrogen source also favorable to the strain ASI 32002. The optimum C/N ratio of the two isolates of ASI 32002 and ASI 32003 was about 25 : 1 when 2% glucose as carbon source was mixed with the basal medium. While, in the case of 4% as carbon source, the optimum C/N ratio was about 30 : 1.