<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> flowering of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Perilla frutescens</Emphasis>

This study investigated the factors affecting in vitro flowering of Perilla frutescens. The shoots regenerated from cotyledonary and hypocotyl explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with benzyladenine (BA) and indole-3-acetic acid, each at 0.5 mg l⁻¹, were excised and transferred to MS medium containing 30 g l⁻¹ of sucrose, 8.25 g l⁻¹ of ammonium nitrate, and 1.0 mg l⁻¹ of BA. After 40 d of culture, 86.2% of shoots flowered and most of which self-fertilized in vitro and produced mature fruits with viable seeds. These seeds were germinated and plants were grown to maturity and flowered in soil under greenhouse conditions. The in vitro flowering system reported in this study may facilitate rapid breeding of P. frutescens and offers a model system for studying the physiological mechanism of flowering.     

Fungi took a unique evolutionary route to multicellularity: Seven key challenges for fungal multicellular life

The evolution of multicellularity has been one of the major transitions in the history of life. In contrast to animals and plants, how multicellularity evolved in fungi and how it compares to the general principles distilled from the study of more widely studied model systems, has received little attention. This review broadly discusses multicellular functioning and evolution in fungi. We focus on how fungi solved some of the common challenges associated with the evolution of multi-celled organisms and what unique challenges follow from the peculiar, filamentous growth form of fungi. We identify and discuss seven key challenges for fungal multicellular growth: apical growth, compartmentalization, long-distance mass transport, controlling mutational load, cell-to-cell communication, differentiation and adhesion. Some of these are characteristic of all multicellular transitions, whereas others are unique to fungi. We hope this review will facilitate the interpretation of fungal multicellularity in comparison with that of other multicellular lineages and will prompt further research into how fungi solved fundamental challenges in one of the major transitions in their evolutionary history.     

Non-destructive analysis of the moisture content in shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) using near-infrared imaging at 1450 nm

Moisture content (MC) is an important factor in the freshness of shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes). In this study, we developed a simple prediction method for MC of shiitake mushrooms using near-infrared (NIR) imaging at 1450 nm, as the band at 1450 nm is strongly correlated with OH groups. First, a NIR image was captured by an InGaAs sensor with a bandpass filter of 1450 nm; the captured image was then calibrated using an image taken at 1100 nm to remove shade and shape effects of mushrooms. The actual MC of shiitake mushrooms was measured using an oven-drying method, and a calibration curve was obtained for the cap surface and the gill side, respectively. The correlation coefficient reached more than 0.85, and the standard error of calibration ranged from 3.1% to 8.2%. Non-destructive MC images were quantified using the constructed calibration curves, and the experimental results showed that differences in the water-holding property can be visualized over 6 h for each side using our method.     

台湾虫草子实体人工培养条件的初步研究

目的研究人工培养条件对台湾虫草子实体形成的影响。方法通过黄山被毛孢的液体摇瓶培养,确定摇瓶种子的最佳培养时间,并研究了在人工诱导下台湾虫草子实体的形成条件,即子实体形成与营养液pH、营养液量、培养温度及光照时间之间的关系。结果黄山被毛孢液体摇瓶最佳培养时间为12 d,人工固体培养子实体所需营养液最佳pH为6.0,营养液量为40 mL,培养温度为25℃,菌丝培养阶段为完全黑暗培养,原基出现后给予光照,可获得较多的子实体。结论人工培养条件对台湾虫草菌丝体生长、原基形成、子实体产量具有显著影响。     

丝虫草及其无性型关系的分子确证

目的对丝虫草（Ophiocordyceps filiform is）及从子囊孢子分离所得的无性型进行测序和比较分析,确证二者之间的对应关系。方法采用PCR技术,以rDNA-ITS区为分子指标。结果系统进化树显示丝虫草的无性型归为被毛孢属较为合理,同时通过形态特征比较的结果表明,其无性型为荔波被毛孢（Hirsutella liboensis）。结论本研究首次确立了丝虫草的有性型与无性型的对应关系,并且成功培育出了与天然丝虫草相同的虫草子实体。     

Leaf litter fungi in a Central Amazonian forest: the influence of rainfall,soil and topography on the distribution of fruiting bodies

Fungi are important components of tropical ecosystems, especially in the recycling of nutrients. However, there is little information on how fungal diversity is structured at scales suitable to plan their conservation. We tested if the distribution of fruiting bodies of litter fungi was random in the landscape (over 25 km²) in a tropical evergreen forest in Central Amazonia. We used linear regressions to evaluate the influence of rainfall, soil characteristics and topography on morphospecies richness and composition. Fungi were collected twice in thirty 0.25 × 250 m plots. Short-term rainfall was represented by the cumulative rainfall in the three days before each plot was surveyed. Plots were classified in two groups based on cumulative rainfall. Clay content in soil and rainfall influenced morphospecies richness, but responses to edaphic factors depended on rainfall. Wetter periods apparently decreased limiting moisture conditions in higher areas, allowing fungal activity and fruiting body production. Morphospecies composition was influenced by clay content, but influence on fungi was probably indirect as clay content was correlated with altitude, plant community and nitrogen availability. Our results suggest that the species of litter fungi are not randomly distributed in the landscape. Furthermore, they indicate that it is viable to conduct mesoscale evaluations of fungal diversity, if the temporal and spatial variation and their interaction are taken into account.     

Growth performance of Ganoderma lucidum using billet method in Garhwal Himalaya,India

Medicinal mushrooms have been used in various treatments from a very long time, among which, Ganoderma lucidum is one of the most important medicinal mushroom. It is cultivated worldwide to meet its ever-increasing demand in the market. It is generally cultivated by bed log (Sawdust) and wood log (billet) method. This study was an attempt to observe the growth performance of G. lucidum on poplar billets (Populus deltoides) in the Sherpur Village (Dehradun) and Manjgaun village (Tehri Garhwal) of Garhwal Himalaya, India. The farmers’ field with empty house/ rooms having proper growing conditions especially humidity and light were used for the cultivation of G. lucidum. The G. lucidum spawn was inoculated in poplar wood billets and these billets were installed in well prepared soil. The results demonstrated that cropping cycle of G. lucidum was shorter (132–136 days) in Sherpur Village (Dehradun) as compared to Manjgaun village (141–145 days) in Tehri Garhwal. Further the results also revealed that yield was decreased in the subsequent flushes. In Village Sherpur, the fruiting bodies of G. lucidum were harvested between 64-66 days, 100-101  days and 135-136  days during first, second and third flush after the installation of billets, respectively. However; in village Manjgaun, the fruiting bodies of G. lucidum were harvested between 69 and 71 days, 107-108  days and 144-145 days in first, second and third after the installation of billets respectively. Warmer temperature in Village Sherpur resulted in the early emergence and development of the fruiting bodies as compared to village Manjgaun where pinhead and fruiting body development was delayed due to the lower temperature during cropping cycle.