Selection of new isolates from single spore and multispore cultures from two strains of Agaricus bisporus

Abstract

Five isolates of single spore cultures were selected from 50 isolates of two strains A. bisporus B-62 and A. bisporus X-20, in addition to five isolates of multispore cultures were selected from 20 isolates of both strains, for production of new isolates with improved agronomic characters and high productivity. The results showed that the percentage of fertile single spore cultures in both A. bisporus B-62 and A. bisporus X-20 were higher than sterile single spore cultures resulting in 78 and 82%, respectively. The isolates of single spore cultures BS-3 and BS-2, and BM-1and BM-4 from multispore cultures of A. bisporus B-62 and the isolates of single spore cultures XS-3, XS-4 and XS-5, and the isolates XM-1 and XM-2 from multispore cultures of A. bisporus X-20 were significantly superior, according to L.S.D test (P<0.05), in all agronomic characters including shape, size and firmness of fruitbodies and mycelium growth into casing layer, compared to mother strain, in addition to the productivity of these isolates was significantly superior and production of fruitbodies was earlier than mother strains.