Mushroom plant named ‘ALLERPO’

Abstract

ALLERPO is a new variety of oyster mushroom that produces no spores and has brown colored caps.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of mushroom plant, as is herein illustrated and described.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a bundle of ALLERPO mushrooms in their entirety;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the upper surface of a plurality of ALLERPO mushrooms;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the lower surface of a plurality of ALLERPO mushrooms;

(5) FIG. 4 shows slices of ALLERPO cut transversely;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a plurality of ALLERPO mushrooms emerging from their growth medium; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows an upper side cap of ALLERPO with lines to designate color measurement location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) The following detailed description sets forth the breeding procedures and the characteristics of the new cultivar. In breeding the new variety, parental lines were isolated from HK35 (female parent) (unpatented) and ATCC 58937 (male parent) (unpatented). Strains HK35 and ATCC 58937 were protoplasted to recover their parental genotypes. As they are basidiomycetes, the cells (dikaryons) contain two nuclei, one from each parent of the strain. Protoplasting therefore results in two types of monokaryons (haploids). The parent strains of HK35 were recovered and crosses were made with the parents of ATCC 58937. This created two parallel breeding lines: HK35-parent 1 x ATCC 58937-parent 1 and HK35-parent 2 x ATCC 58937-parent 2. The inability of ATCC 58937 to produce spores is linked to a defect in the msh4 gene. In both breeding lines, molecular markers were used to select offspring containing the defect version of msh4, in combination with as much of the genotype of the HK35 parents. In both breeding lines, a selection of the offspring was used to prepare a backcross with the original HK35 parent. Again, molecular markers were used to select offspring containing the defect version of msh4, in combination with as much of the genotype of the HK35 parents. From each of the parallel breeding lines, a representative haploid strain was chosen. These two strains (each containing a defective msh4 gene) were crossed and this yielded the new variety named ALLERPO.

(9) The new variety is similar in shell-shaped morphology and mushroom yield to HK35, but unlike HK35, ALLERPO does not produce basidiospores. ALLERPO is similar to ATCC 58937 in not producing basidiospores, but differs from ATCC 58937 in morphology and mushroom size (ATCC 58937 produces small, funnel-shaped mushrooms).

(10) ALLERPO is very similar to oyster mushroom variety named Spoppo (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,037), as they both originate from the same breeding program, using the same parental lines. ALLERPO is similar in morphology to Spoppo, however, the cap color of ALLERPO is slightly darker and more brown in color than Spoppo.

Growth Conditions and Reproduction

(11) The oyster mushrooms were grown on fermented wheat straw that is packed into 17-18 kg blocks of about 406020 cm that are wrapped in micro-porous plastic foil. Before packaging, the wheat straw substrate was inoculated with spawn at 25-30 liters per 1000 kg of substrate. During venting, the air temperature is gradually lowered to 14 C., at a relative humidity of 90%.

Botanical Data Collection Conditions and Standards

(12) The color standard used in the present application is the L*a*b* method (also designated as CIE.LAB or CIE-L*a*b*) defined by Commission International de l'Eclaire in 1976. The location where measurements were made was Wageningen, The Netherlands. Light conditions where measurements were made were by artificial light provided by a Minolta Chroma Meter type CR-200.

Botanical Description

(13) Number of days from beginning of development to peak development: Based on venting after a 19 day spawn run, first pins appear about 5 days after venting. The first day of harvest is about 10-12 days after venting. A second flush will appear about 25-30 days after venting. Age of described plant: Oyster mushrooms are generally produced within 5 weeks after inoculation of the straw substrate. The oyster mushrooms are produced as a bundle of mushrooms varying in size. This limits the possibilities for a uniform description of the mushrooms. A bundle of oyster mushrooms of ALLERPO emerging from their growth medium can be seen at FIG. 5. Overall appearance: Typical of oyster mushrooms, with a brown cap and white, fleshy stipe. Cap: Shape.Shell formed, with a stipe that is excentric to the cap center. Texture.Smooth. Pubescence.None. Margin.Smooth. Diameter.Varies from 4-15 cm. Color.L: 67.40 (st. dev. 4.72, n=250), a: 2.207 (st. dev. 0.787, n=250), b: 14.55 (st. dev. 1.80, n=250). The lines of FIG. 6 designate the measured color location approximately halfway between the attachment of the stipe and the edge of the cap. Flesh color.White, also white upon cutting. Flesh/cap thickness.Short and variable, as cap size varies considerably between individual mushrooms. Gills/lamellae: Description.The lamellae are long and radiate from the stipe outward to the margin of the cap. Length.46.8 mm (st. dev. 11.2 mm, n=12). Width.5.6 mm (st. dev. 1.0 mm, n=12). Color.White. Stipe/stem: Placement.Slightly excentric to the middle of the mushroom cap. Shape.Short and slightly thickened at the base. Length.51.5 mm (st. dev. 12.6 mm, n=12). Width.16.8 mm (st. dev. 6.0 mm, n=12). Texture.Fibrous. Pubescence.Present at the base. Color.White. Spores: None present. Veil: Not present. Odor: Typical fungal odor.

General

(14) Disease/pest resistance or tolerance: Nothing unusual noted to date. Shipping quality: Good. Temperature tolerance: Between 2 and 32 C. Market use: For human consumption.