Culture characteristics and genetic relationship of morel mushroom (Morchella spp.) isolates from Korea and other countries

Eight morel mushroom species were collected from Korea and other countries. The culture characteristics, genetic relationships, and beta-glucan content of the strains were analyzed. The mycelia of Morchella species exhibited optimal growth when cultured in dark at 25 °C in media with pH 7. The mycelia had a distinctive mycelial scent and characteristically changed color, being white initially, and then turning dark yellow to dark brown as it grew. The mycelia were classified into five types based on morphology. The isolates were identified as Morchella conica, two M. sextelata, M. importuna, M. esculenta, and three M. crassipes, based on ITS-rDNA sequences. PCR polymorphisms were variably produced within Morchella spp. using Universal Fungal Fingerprinting Primers (UFPF) and classified into four groups at the intra and inter species level. The strains, KMCC04971 and KMCC04407, showed the same banding pattern as M. conica and M. sextelata, respectively; however, these results were different from those of ITS analysis. Glucan content analysis by strain showed that the KMCC 04973 strain of M. importuna had the highest alphaand beta-glucan content, at 16.4 g and 33.1 g per 100 g, respectively.