Mycelial disturbance stimulates the formation of sporomes of edible ectomycorrizhal fungi associated with two neotropical pines

Objective: To determine the effect of mycelial disturbance on the formation of sporomesof two edible ectomycorrhizal fungi of great biocultural relevance in Mexico (Laccarialaccata and Hebeloma leucosarx) associated to two Neotropical pines with economicand ecological importance, Pinus greggii and P. montezumae.Design/Methodology/Approach: Spore inoculum was produced using ground pilei ofthe evaluated ectomycorrhizal fungi; each pine plant was inoculated with 10 7 to 10 8fungal spores. A completely randomized experimental design was used with fourtreatments and six replicates per treatment for each pine species, having a total of 48experimental units, each one consisting in an inoculated tree. During two years thesporome production was evaluated in the treatments with and without mycelialdisturbance. The duration of the experiment, since seed germination, was 5 years.Results: The mycelial disturbance originated a higher formation of sporomes in bothfungal species, regardless of the associated tree species. The highest sporomeformation was recorded in plants inoculated with H. leucosarx compared to those inoculated with L. laccata in both pine species. Mycelial disturbance, originated a highernumber of sporomes in Pinus greggii compared to P. montezumae.Study Limitations/Implications: The evaluation of factors influencing sporomeformation in edible ectomycorrhizal fungi requires long term experiments.Findings/Conclusions: This study shows for the first time that mycelial disturbanceincreases sporome formation in Neotropical ectomycorrhizal fungi. Additionally, adifferential influence of the fungal and tree species on the number of producedsporomes was found. These findings shed some light on potential cultivation methodsfor edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms.