Abstract
Tricholoma matsutake is an economically valuable fungus in Japan. However, its production is unpredictable because the fruiting bodies occur in natural forests and their development is affected by environmental conditions. Understanding these environmental conditions is essential for the sustainable production of T. matsutake fruiting bodies. Thus, to clarify the effect of environmental conditions on fruiting body development, we aimed to determine the ground temperature necessary for fruiting body initiation in T. matsutake. We observed fruiting body growth and ground temperature conditions in five colonies between 2001 and 2004 in a forest of a cold region. A logistic model was employed to determine the fruiting body growth of T. matsutake. Using this model, we determined the temperature for fruiting body initiation in T. matsutake to be approximately 15℃ at the study site. This value was lower than that observed in a warm region and suggests genetic adaptation of T. matsutake to a colder climate.
