Interorder Protoplast Fusion between Pleurotus ostreatus and Ganoderma applanatum

Interorder heterokaryons were obtained by polyethylene glycol induced fusion of protoplasts from auxotrophic mutants of Pleurotus ostreatus in agaricales and Ganoderma applanaturm in aphyllophorales. When transferred to MMM plates, all fusion colonies exhibited an extremely growth rate. During three times subcultivation on MCM the growth rate of fusants showed faster little by little. Seventy-five % fusion products of potoplasts showed mixed morphologies between those of P. ostreatus and G. applannatum in the first subcultivation on MCM and MGM. The phenotype of these fusants changed similar those of P. osteatus type after three times subcultivation on MCM. However, phenotype of 25% stable strains did not change on subcultivation. Hyphae of all fusion products did not form true clamp connection. All these types did not produce primordia. A comparrison of interorder somatic hybrids was made using isozyme analysis of esterase, malate dehydrogenase and peroxidase. In most cases the enzyme patterns of G. applanatum were not distinct, however, fusant showed non-parental bands.