title: Biotechnology of morel mushrooms: successful fruiting body formation and development in a soilless system.
abstract: Morchella spp. ascocarps (morels) are some of the world's most sought-after mushrooms. Successful cultivation of morels is still a rare and difficult task despite over 100 years of effort. Here we provide the first report of successful Morchella rufobrunnea fruiting body initiation and development in laboratory-scale experiments. Mushroom initials appeared 2 to 4 weeks after first watering of pre-grown sclerotia incubated at 16 to 22°C and 90% humidity. Mature fruiting bodies reached 7 to 15 cm in length and were obtained after the five morphological developmental stages of this Morchella species: sclerotium formation, scelerotium germination, asexual spore formation, formation of initial knots and development of the fruiting body.
authors.affiliation: Applied Microbiology and Mycology Department, MIGAL, P.O. Box 831, 11016, Kiryat Shmona, Israel. segula@migal.org.il
authors.forename: Segula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masaphy
mesh_terms: D000363:Agaricales / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D048690:Fruiting Bodies, Fungal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D006813:Humidity; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors