Although ear mushroom (Auricularia auricula-judae) was a world-widely cultivated there was a limited number of commercial cultivars in Korea. Recent increase of import of ear mushroom from China threatens domestic farmhouse. A present study introduced a thermo-tolerant new cultivar of ear mushroom ‘Hyeonyu’, which was made by mating monokaryons obtained from JBAA11 and CAA1 strains. The optimal temperature for growth was 26-36°C. The periods of primordia formation and fruit-body growth were 27 and 15 days, respectively. The average mushroom yield per bag (1kg) was 350g. As a result of RAPD with OPA1 and OPA7 primers, there were polymorphic DNA bands among control, new variety and china variety.

• Gl-Kwon Lee(Jeollabuk-do Agricultural Research and Agri-food Development Division)