Study on the Genetic Diversity and Biological Characteristics of Wild Agaricus bisporus Strains from China

90 wild Agaricus strains from China, including 44 Agaricus bisporus strains identified preliminarily by isozyme electrophoresis, were studied by the techniques of SRAP and ISSR. 18 special SRAP bands and 12 special ISSR bands were analyzed, the strains were clustered and a demdrogram was obtained. The results showed that the strains were divided into 2 groups, wild A. bisporus group and the other Agaricus group. It is similar to the result of isozyme electrophoresis. 41 wild A. bisporus strains from Sichuan and Tibet were divided into 4 groups based on their growing places, suggesting the regionally difference of the strains to be quite obvious. Some white wild A. bisporus strains from Xinjiang and Tibet had special patterns, resulting in lower coefficient values with other wild A. bisporus strains. The biological characteristics of three wild A. bisporus strains were analyzed, and the results showed: 1. The wild strains grew slowly on PDA medium with weak appressed mycelia, and grew normally in kernel or fermented cottonseed shell substrate. 2. They grew faster than control strain As2796 under lower temperature of $16^{\circ}C$, and higher temperature of $32^{\circ}C$, with optimum growing temperature of $20-24^{\circ}C$, which was $4^{\circ}C$ lower than that of control strain. 3. In the cultivation with manure compost via twice fermentation, the mycelia grew normally in compost and quite slowly in casing soil, and the fruitbodies occurred less and late with easily opening and low production. 4. The fruitbody was off-white with flat and scaled cap, long stipe and dark gill. The bisporus basidia occupied 70-80% and trisporus basidia 20-30% of the total basidia. 5. Heterokaryotic monospore isolates could fruit in cultivation, and the homokaryotic isolates could cross with those derived from overseas wild A.bisporus strains. 6. The electrophoresis phenotype of isozymes such as esterase etc. belonged to high production type (H type). 7. The RAPD patterns made much difference from those of high production, good quality or hybrid strains, which indicated that the wild strains produce a new kind of RAPD type.