Entoloma clypeatum species complex (ECSC) forms ectomycorrhiza-like roots (EMLR) with host plant species of Rosaceae or Ulmaceae. The EMLR colonized with ECSC are characterized by a thick fungal mantle, absence of a Hartig net structure, and collapse of the apical meristem caused by hyphal invasion. Some researchers have suggested parasitism of ECSC because of this unique mode of colonization; however, the nature of the interaction between ECSC and host plants has not been investigated in co-culture because of the difficulty of culturing this group of fungi. We established a procedure to synthesize EMLR of ECSC on pear seedlings using fungal cultures. Three conspecific strains of ECSC isolated from basidiospores and one strain isolated from EMLR were tested. Cultured mycelia were inoculated onto a modified Norkrans’ C (MNC) or Hyponex-yeast-glucose (HYG) medium slant on the bottom of a polycarbonate jar and covered with autoclaved andosol or a vermiculite/sphagnum moss mixture (VSM); an axenically cultivated Pyrus betulifolia seedling was then planted in the jar. Five months after inoculation, the formation of EMLR with Hartig net-like hyphae was confirmed in all of the experimental plots. However, the rate of root colonization was significantly higher in experimental plots using andosol than in those using VSM. The growth of pear seedlings was similar irrespective of the level of root colonization, suggesting commensalism rather than parasitism of ECSC. One experimental plot using strain A3, an MNC slant, and andosol as a substrate produced ECSC fruiting bodies with mature basidia and basidiospores. The results suggested that our procedure enables the synthesis of EMLR of ECSC and cultivation of their fruiting bodies.

猪肠杆菌物种复合物（ECSC）与蔷薇科或榆科的寄主植物物种形成了类似菌根的根（EMLR）。用ECSC定植的EMLR的特征是厚厚的真菌套层，没有Hartig网状结构以及由菌丝入侵引起的顶端分生组织崩溃。由于这种独特的定殖模式，一些研究人员提出了ECSC的寄生性。但是，由于培养这组真菌很困难，因此尚未在共培养中研究ECSC与宿主植物之间相互作用的性质。我们建立了使用真菌培养物在梨苗上合成ECSC的EMLR的程序。测试了三种从孢子孢子分离的ECSC同种菌株和一种从EMLR分离的菌株。将培养的菌丝体接种到倾斜的聚碳酸酯罐底部的改良Norkrans's C（MNC）或Hyponex-酵母-葡萄糖（HYG）培养基上，并用高压灭菌的安索溶胶或a石/水藓苔混合物（VSM）覆盖；养成的然后在罐子中种植白桦。接种五个月后，在所有实验区中均证实了带有Hartig网状菌丝的EMLR的形成。但是，在使用Andosol的试验区中，根部定植的速率明显高于在使用VSM的试验区中。不论根部定植水平如何，梨幼苗的生长都是相似的，这暗示着共情而不是寄生于ECSC。一个使用菌株A3，MNC倾斜和雄激素作为底物的实验田生产了具有成熟芽孢杆菌和担子孢子的ECSC子实体。结果表明我们的程序使ECSC EMLR的合成和其子实体的培养成为可能。