Strain of Brown Mushrooms for Commercial Production

Abstract

Hybrid Agaricus bisporus mushroom strains having one or more genetic characteristics of a wild mushroom strain deposited under ATCC accession No. PTA-6903 or a progeny thereof and having specified physical and genetic characteristics are disclosed along with methods of producing brown mushrooms for commercial use.

1 . A method of isolating a hybrid mushroom having improved commercial characteristics, the method comprising:
 crossing a wild  Agaricus bisporus  strain with an  Agaricus bisporus  bridging cross strain; and   isolating hybrid mushroom progeny resulting from said crossing, wherein the isolated hybrid mushroom progeny have at least one physical characteristic selected from the group consisting of increased productivity, darker cap color, thicker cap, and non-compatibility or antagonism relative to a commercially available brown  Agaricus bisporous  strain.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bridging cross strain is a hybrid mushroom strain produced by crossing a commercial white  Agaricus bisporus  mushroom strain with a commercial brown  Agaricus bisporus  mushroom strain, wherein the commercial white strain is selected from the group consisting of a U1 strain, a U3 strain, or a derivative thereof, and wherein the commercial brown strain is selected from the group consisting of Sylvan SB65, Lambert 800, Lambert 801, Sylvan 295, Sylvan 600, Amycel 2400, and Amycel Bella. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the commercial white strain is a U1 derivative. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the commercial brown strain is Amycel 2400. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bridging cross strain is 4×29. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein isolating said hybrid mushroom progeny comprises cloning individual hybrid mushroom progeny. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hybrid mushroom progeny are isolated based on darker cap color. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hybrid mushroom progeny are isolated based on darker cap color and increased productivity. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hybrid mushroom progeny have at least two physical characteristics selected from the group consisting of increased productivity, darker cap color, thicker cap, and non-compatibility or antagonism relative to a commercially available brown  Agaricus bisporous  strain. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hybrid mushroom progeny have at least three physical characteristics selected from the group consisting of increased productivity, darker cap color, thicker cap, and non-compatibility or antagonism relative to a commercially available brown  Agaricus bisporous  strain. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hybrid mushroom progeny are characterized by increased productivity, darker cap color, thicker cap, and non-compatibility or antagonism relative to a commercially available brown  Agaricus bisporous  strain. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hybrid mushroom progeny comprise at least one genetic characteristic of the wild  Agaricus bisporus  mushroom strain not present in the  Agaricus bisporus  bridging cross strain. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one genetic characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a RAPD band, a RFLP hand, and a SCAR band. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the commercial brown reference strain is Amycel 2400. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wild  Agaricus bisporus  mushroom strain is AA-0096. 
     
     
         16 . A method of isolating a hybrid mushroom having improved commercial characteristics, the method comprising:
 crossing a AA-0096  Agaricus bisporus  mushroom strain with an  Agaricus bisporus  bridging cross strain; and   isolating hybrid mushroom progeny resulting from said crossing, wherein the isolated hybrid mushroom progeny have at least one physical characteristic selected from the group consisting of increased productivity, darker cap color, thicker cap, and non-compatibility or antagonism relative to a commercially available brown  Agaricus bisporous  strain.