The present invention relates to fungi of Acremonium spp, wherein said fungi are purified or isolated from plants of the Brachiaria-Urochloa complex and wherein, when said fungi are inoculated into a plant, said plant has improved resistance to diseases and/or pests relative to an uninocualated control plant. The present invention also relates to plants inoculated with such fungi, products produced by the fungi and related genes, proteins and methods.

A method of improving viability, persistence, and/or vigor of a host plant in the form of Lolium multiflorum Lolium x hybridum and Lolium perenne (host grass) includes artificially inoculating the host grass with an LpTG-1 endophyte RGT15 strain. The LpTG-1 endophyte RGT15 strain can produce at least one alkaloid or combination of alkaloids that provide the host grass with a favorable alkaloid profile and/or protect the plant from biotic stresses.

A method of improving viability, persistence, and/or vigor of a host plant in the form of Lolium multiflorum Lolium x hybridum and Lolium perenne (host grass) includes artificially inoculating the host grass with an LpTG-1 endophyte RGT15 strain. The LpTG-1 endophyte RGT15 strain can produce at least one alkaloid or combination of alkaloids that provide the host grass with a favorable alkaloid profile and/or protect the plant from biotic stresses.

A novel strain of Pleurotus nebrodensis (Daewang No. 1, Accession No.: KACC93181P) and a method for cultivating it are provided. The novel strain of Pleurotus nebrodensis is different from the existing Pleurotus ferulae in shape and physiological characteristic, has an extra after-ripening period, can be grown at a low temperature of 22 to 25 C. and a low water content (RH) of 60 to 65%, can be cultivated in slightly acid environment of pH 5.5 to 6.5, can utilize bottle cultivation, and has a good shape not to be easily damaged in packaging. Thus, the novel strain of Pleurotus nebrodensis according to the present invention have good commercial value, are more resistant to environmental change, and can be mass produced by automation system and used for creating high value-added business in the food and agriculture industry.

A novel strain of Pleurotus nebrodensis (Daewang No. 1, Accession No.: KACC93181P) and a method for cultivating it are provided. The novel strain of Pleurotus nebrodensis is different from the existing Pleurotus ferulae in shape and physiological characteristic, has an extra after-ripening period, can be grown at a low temperature of 22 to 25 C. and a low water content (RH) of 60 to 65%, can be cultivated in slightly acid environment of pH 5.5 to 6.5, can utilize bottle cultivation, and has a good shape not to be easily damaged in packaging. Thus, the novel strain of Pleurotus nebrodensis according to the present invention have good commercial value, are more resistant to environmental change, and can be mass produced by automation system and used for creating high value-added business in the food and agriculture industry.

A culture comprising at least one set of the chromosomes of the Agaricus bisporus line J10102-s69, the culture of the line J10102-s69 having been deposited under the NRRL Accession Number 50893, wherein said chromosomes comprise all of the alleles of the line J10102-s69 at the sequence-characterized marker loci listed in Table I. Methods are provided for introducing a desired trait into a culture of Agaricus bisporus line J10102-s69, as well as methods and processes for producing hybrid mushroom cultures. A method of mushroom strain development is further provided.

A culture comprising at least one set of the chromosomes of the Agaricus bisporus line J10102-s69, the culture of the line J10102-s69 having been deposited under the NRRL Accession Number 50893, wherein said chromosomes comprise all of the alleles of the line J10102-s69 at the sequence-characterized marker loci listed in Table I. Methods are provided for introducing a desired trait into a culture of Agaricus bisporus line J10102-s69, as well as methods and processes for producing hybrid mushroom cultures. A method of mushroom strain development is further provided.

A culture comprising at least one set of the chromosomes of the Agaricus bisporus line B12998-s39, the culture of the line B12998-s39 having been deposited under the NRRL Accession Number 50899, wherein said chromosomes comprise all of the alleles of the line B12998-s39 at the sequence-characterized marker loci listed in Table I. Methods are provided for introducing a desired trait into a culture of Agaricus bisporus line B12998-s39, as well as methods and processes for producing hybrid mushroom cultures. A method of mushroom strain development is further provided.

A culture comprising at least one set of the chromosomes of the Agaricus bisporus line B12998-s39, the culture of the line B12998-s39 having been deposited under the NRRL Accession Number 50899, wherein said chromosomes comprise all of the alleles of the line B12998-s39 at the sequence-characterized marker loci listed in Table I. Methods are provided for introducing a desired trait into a culture of Agaricus bisporus line B12998-s39, as well as methods and processes for producing hybrid mushroom cultures. A method of mushroom strain development is further provided.

The present invention relates to a method for identifying and/or characterising an endophyte strain, said method including providing a plurality of samples of endophytes, subjecting said endophytes to genetic analysis, subjecting said endophytes to metabolic analysis and selecting endophytes having a desired genetic and metabolic profile.

The present invention also relates to novel endophytes having a desired toxin profile wherein the endophyte produces significantly less toxic alkaloids compared with a control endophyte such as standard toxic (ST) endophyte; and/or significantly more alkaloids conferring beneficial properties compared with a control endophyte such as ST endophyte.

The present invention also relates to endophyte variants having a desired genetic and metabolic profile, wherein said endophyte variants possess genetic and/or metabolic characteristics that result in a beneficial phenotype in a plant harbouring or otherwise associated with the endophyte variant. Preferably said endophyte variants are generated by polyploidisation or induced chromosome doubling.