Abstract
The Basidiomycete Rhizopogon roseolus (Corda) Th. Fr. (= Rhizopogon rubescens Tul. & C. Tul.) is an ectomycorrhizal mushroom with salt tolerance. To obtain more salt tolerant strains, we examined intraspecific variation in the salt tolerance of basidiospore isolates, and evaluated the salt tolerance of crossed-strains generated by crossing basidiospore isolates. Inocula were grown on nutrient-poor Modified Melin-Norkans agar medium containing different concentrations of NaCl, and radial mycelial growth was measured after 16 days of incubation. Intraspecific variation in salt tolerance was observed among both basidiospore isolates and crossed-strains. When crossed with salt tolerant basidiospore isolates, some of the strains showed higher salt tolerance than their parental wild strains, showing the promise of producing salt tolerant strains by cross-breeding.
