Mycorrhizal synthesis, morpho-anatomical characterization of mycorrhizae, and evaluation of mycorrhiza-forming ability of Hydnum albidum-like species using monokaryotic and dikaryotic cultures

Despite the economic and ecological importance of Hydnum species, in vitro synthesis of ectomycorrhizae of this genus has not been reported due to difficulties in establishing pure cultures. We inoculated pure cultures of 12 monokaryotic and 3 dikaryotic mycelial strains of an undescribed Hydnum albidum-like species on roots of axenic Pinus densiflora seedlings to synthesize ectomycorrhizae and to evaluate their mycorrhiza-forming ability. Six months after inoculation, both monokaryotic and dikaryotic strains formed ectomycorrhizae with Hartig net hyphae at the root cortex. Monokaryotic and dikaryotic strains exhibited similar morpho-anatomical characteristics of ectomycorrhizae, with the exception for clamped septa of emanating and outer mantle hyphae in the latter. Between monokaryotic and descendant dikaryotic strains, there were no significant differences in number of mycorrhizae in pine seedlings, whereas monokaryotic strains showed a greater total number of root tips and lower colonization rates than the descendant dikaryotic strains. These results indicate that both monokaryotic and dikaryotic mycelia of the H. albidum-like species can form mycorrhizae under axenic condition, and that can be applied toward the cultivation of hedgehog mushrooms.