Fruiting body productivity of protoplast-derived clones in Lentinula edodes

More than 100 dikaryotic clones (protoclones) derived from mycelial protoplasts of a Lentinula edodes dikaryon were examined for their mycelial growth and fruiting body productivity. These protoclones exhibited a variety of vegetative mycelial growth rates, but no apparent difference in colonial morphology compared with the original (parental) dikaryon. Protoclones were cultivated on wood logs under natural conditions, and they exhibited a very wide range of fruiting body yields. Of the 134 protoclones, four were selected that produced a 30–40% increase in dry weight of fruiting body yield over that of the original dikaryon. This high productivity of fruiting bodies was maintained for at least several years. The present results suggest that L. edodes protoclones can be practically used in strain improvement to increase the capability of fruiting body formation.