Tricholoma matsutake is a commercially important edible ectomycorrhizal mushroom. The ecology of this species has emerged from studies of the genetic background of mycelial colonies in nature. Single putative colonies sometimes comprise several genets. This complex mycelial structure should be subjected to analysis to determine its ecophysiological significance. We tested the ectomycorrhization ability of nine T. matsutake sibling spore isolates. The ectomycorrhizal colonization ratio differed significantly among isolates, and was dependent on the soil nitrogen content. Mixed inoculations of three selected isolates into soils in which single pine seedlings were grown showed that the isolates interacted in the seedling roots. Paired inoculations of isolates #52/#99 and #52/#84, and a triple inoculation of isolates #52/#84/#99 resulted in levels of ectomycorrhizal colonization that significantly exceeded the colonization levels following single isolate inoculation. We suggest that mycelial interaction between sibling isolates is a significant phenomenon that operates within individual ectomycorrhizal pine root tips.

松茸口蘑是一种商业上重要的食用菌根菌。该物种的生态学源于自然界中菌丝菌落的遗传背景研究。单个推定菌落有时包含几个种系。应该对这种复杂的菌丝结构进行分析，以确定其生态生理意义。我们测试了9个T的皮肤硬化能力。松茸同胞孢子分离物。不同菌株之间的菌根菌落定植率有显着差异，并取决于土壤中的氮含量。将三种选择的分离株混合接种到种植单株松树苗的土壤中，表明这些分离株在苗根中相互作用。配对接种＃52 /＃99和＃52 /＃84，以及三次接种＃52 /＃84 /＃99，导致菌根菌落定植水平大大超过了单菌落接种后的定植水平。我们建议同胞分离物之间的菌丝体相互作用是在单个外生菌根松根尖内起作用的重要现象。