• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-32
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• 2006

According to UPOV (International Union for Protection of New Varieties of Plants), mushroom spawn market have to be opened by the year 2009. Number of commercial strains distributed by the year 2005 were 179 of 24 species of edible and medicinal mushrooms. Only nine strains of oyster mushrooms were registered as protected variety, which is not compatible with those recorded in other advanced countries. Meaning of spawn in broad sense contains commercial strains. Development of commercial strains faces two main problems in Korea : One is the complicated genetic patterns and sexuality of mushroom species, and the other is expensive experimental equipments and fruiting body growing houses. Resolution of these problems leads to development of mushroom strains. This could be achieved as follows; genetic resources collection and assessment, molecular characterization of useful genetic characters, development of new commercial strains by hybridization using typical genetic resources, strengthening of breeding research using "Mushroom Breeding Group", management of spawn research company by consortium, foundation of mushroom general industry, promotion of consumption, and upgrade of competition ability for other countries. These points are under discussion.