Interspecific Genetic Variability of the Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatusAs Revealed by Allozyme Gene Analysis

Allozyme variation in natural populations of basidiomycete fungus Pleurotus ostreatus (88 individuals) from three regions of central Russia was studied. The species was shown to have 92.86% of polymorphic allozyme loci and expected heterozygosity H _e = 0.49. The mean number of alleles per locus was 3.5. The genetic differences among populations were supported by F-statistics (F _ST = 0.750). The low level of inbreeding (F _IS = 0.018) suggests that the P. ostreatus populations are panmictic, and the main reproduction mode involves basidiospores dispersing at long distances. Using cluster analysis, geographically isolated populations and intersterile groups were differentiated within the complex P. ostreatus species.