Genetic and Environmental Aspects of Fruiting in Schizophyllum commune Fr.

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Abstract
An extensive study of fruiting in a large, world-wide sample of S. commune has revealed genetic background as the most critical factor in determining the occurrence and time of fruiting and the form of the fruiting bodies. In a sample of 116 homokaryotic mycelia cross-mated in all combinations, fruiting occurred in 80% of the resulting dikaryons. Good fruiting and poor fruiting were conspicuously correlated with specific strains. Detailed analysis of fruiting among 80 strains permitted a quantitative determination of fruiting competence and the classification of individual strains. Fruiting competence is inherited as a quantitative character; in dikaryotic mycelia low fruiting potential is masked by high fruiting competence. Five fruiting abnormalities, each genetically determined, may be characterized as follows: (1) Cauliflower, a severely malformed, gill-less fruiting body; a quantitative character that is completely suppressed in matings with wild-type; (2) Medusoid, profuse, finger-like projections; a quantitative character that is only partially suppressed by wild-type; (3) Bug''s ear, small (<1 mm), ear-shaped fruits; a single-locus, dominant character; (4) Coralloid, a compact, convuluted, darkened fruit; a single-locus, dominant character, always associated with a mycelial aberration and the production of indigo; location known as to linkage group; (5) Haploid (homokaryotic) fruiting, variously expressed in different strains; sporulation sparse, spores mostly non-viable- a quantitative character distinct from dikaryotic fruiting competence. The effects of light, nutrient, and other environmental factors have been again confirmed, but no restoration to normal fruiting in genetically inadequate stocks has been achieved through alteration of external factors.

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