A New Method for Cultivation of Sclerotium of Grifola umbellata

Sclerotia of Grifola umbellata were cultivated by two methods such as burying and root inoculation methods. The sclerotia of G. umbellata produced by the burying method were $6.0{\sim}6.8{\times}3.4{\sim}4.6{\times}1.8{\sim}1.9cm$(Width$\times$Length$\times$Thickness) in size and $17.3{\sim}19.6g$ in weight, respectively. Their increase rate was $1.10{\times}1.12$ times. On the other hand, the sclerotia cultivated by the root inoculation method were $18.3{\sim}31.5{\times}12.5{\sim}26.4{\times}3.1{\sim}3.7cm(W{\times}L{\times}T)$ in size and $219.1{\sim}576.6g$ in weight, respectively. Their growth increment was $11.18{\sim}39.77$ times. The rhizomorphs of Armillaria mellea were developed with a high density under fallen leaves layer covering cultivation site, and distributed mainly between soil surface and soil depth of about 10 cm as well as colonized prominently on the inoculated wood logs. Fungal interaction between G. umbellata and A. mellea were observed mainly in the stage of white sclerotium of G. umbellata. The sclerotia of G. umbellata which were developed newly and harvested in the root inoculation method were twined with root hairs of host tree and rhizomorphs of A. mellea. The sclerotia of G. umbellata decomposing root hairs of host tree were confirmed through SEM examination. Physiochemical characteristics of soil in all cultivation sites had no significant differences. Soil pH were in the range of pH $3.98{\sim}4.40$. Organic matters were the range of $17.97{\sim}23.86%$ and moisture contents of soil were $12.00{\sim}18.20%$. Soil temperatures showed $12.9{\sim}13.8^{\circ}C$ in November and $22.0{\sim}23.9^{\circ}C$ in August, respectively. In conclusion, the root inoculation method seems to be a practical method for cultivating sclerotia of G. umbellata due to its many advantages such as simplicity of inoculation process, shortening of cultivation periods and facility of harvest.