Generation of Nucler Hybrids Overcoming the Natural Barrier of Incompatibility: Transfer of Nuclei from Lentinula edodes into Protoplasts of Coriolus versicolor

Heterokaryotic nuclear hybrids overcoming the natural barriers of incompatibility have been studied in basidiomycetes. To produce these nuclear hybrids between incompatible mushrooms, which have several potent pharmacological effects, nuclear transfer was performed between Lentinula edodes and Coriolus versicolor. Nuclei from serine auxotrophs of Lentinula edodes, $LE207(Ser^{-})$ were transferred into the protoplasts of arginine auxotrophs of Coriolus versicolor, $CV17(Ser^{-})$using 30% polyethylene glycol 4000 in 10 mM $Cacl_{2}$-glycine solution (pH 8.0). Nulcear transfer progenies were selected by nutritional complementation on minimal media supplemented with 0.6 M sucrose. The progenies were classified based on colony morphology to L. edodes-like, C, versicolor-like and non-parental type. Most of the progenies grew slower than either parent. The number of nuclei per cell was similar but the DNA content varied between progenies. The isozyme patterns of nuclear hybrids resembled either of the parent porfiles or showed a mixed profile.