Twenty-three plants of Japanese apricot (Prunus mume) were collected from several sites around Mountains JIRI in Korea. Japanese apricots having the different morphological features were evenly distributed in the groups made from the cluster analysis, indicating no geographic distributions but artificial vegetations in Korea. Japanese apricots were, as based on the PCR-RAPD techniques, clustered into the three groups; a group (prototype) having the five white petals with the five red sepals, a group (green type) having the five white petals with the five green sepals, and a group (hybrid type) having the more than five red petals with various colored sepals. The prototype apricots showed higher toxicities than other type apricot against bacteria and production of less compounds in TLC plates. The polypetal types of Japanes apricot were related to those of p. armebiaca in the characteristics of seed (the ruggedness), but also to be closed to those of p. armebiaca in PCR-RAPD analysis. The cluster analysis of the twenty three apricots and its related species calculated from the two primers were shown to distinguish relationships of cultivars within species, or of individual plants within cultivars, but also to display the two overlapping bands resulted from PCR-RAPD technique.

The availability of enokitake cultural waste for Lentinus edodes cultivation was investigated, although hardwood sawdust has traditionally been used as a substrate for this fungus. Firstly, physiochemical characteristics of cultural waste were analysed. Secondly, mycelial growth characteristics and fruiting yields of L. edodes on waste treated in some methods were determined. Physiochemical characteristics of enokitake cultural waste showed that the millwaste complex was a little degraded by enokitake fungus and suggested the probability that most component lost by enokitake could be rice bran. Mycelia of L. edodes grew and fruited well on waste supplemented by fresh rice bran and Quercus sawdust although didn't on waste only. Mycelial growths of these fungi on waste were accelerated when supplemented by rice bran to the percent of 40(w/w) but decreased or suppressed at above ratios(30, 40%, w/w). Supplementations of oak sawdust at above 40%(w/w) of the waste and rice bran at 20%(w/w) of the sawdust allowed such a good mycelial growth as to be selected as a pertinent mixing ratio for fruiting medium. A fruiting yield on enokitake cultural waste supplemented by oak sawdust (at 40% of the waste, w/w) and rice bran (at 20% of the sawdust, w/w) was not inferior to that on oak sawdust supplemented by rice bran only (at 20% of the sawdust, w/w). These results indicated strongly the potentiality of enokitake cultural waste as raw materials for shiitake cultivating substrates.

The recycling method of enokitake cultural waste and the potentiality of second flush for enokitake were determined, because this fungus is not as prolific as the more commonly cultivated white rot fungi in the conversion of sawdust to mycelial mass. The mycelial growth of F. velutipes on several substrates, variously treated with rice bran was promoted at ratios of 10-20% (w/w) on all substrates, but suppressed at above ratios, although some difference was there. The mycelial densities generally increased correlated to the supplementation contents of rice bran. It could be concluded that F. velutipes preferred mild acidic to acidic conditions for mycelial growth, considering that the mycelial growth rate was highest on waste of pH 6.01, treated with 0.1 % Ca(OH)2 and on populus mixed waste of pH 6.02, non treated. The ranges of substrate bulk densities, which was pertinent for mycelial linear growth were from B.D. (g/cc) 0.17 to 0.23 on waste and populus mixed waste all. The pertinent contents of rice bran supplementation in bottle cultivation was from 20 to 30% on waste and 20% on populus mixed waste, considering the requried duration for pinheading and fruiting yields. Standard bulk density for filling and utilizing the waste and populus mixed waste for commercial f. velutipes cultivation were B.D.(g/cc) 0.19 ~ 0.23, and 0.23~ 0.25, which could be conversed to 510~ 540g/900m1 and 520~ 570g/900m1, respectively, The second flush of F. velutipes was tried and the re-inoculation by sawdust and liquid spawn showed somewhat good results, indicating the potentiality of second crop and suggesting further research for it.

This study was undertaken to examine the feasibility of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) as substrates for several edible mushrooms. For the cultivation of several edible and/or medicinal fungi on black locust, optimum bulk densities, synthetic or semisynthetic additives, natural additives and pretreatment methods were investigated. Fruit body yields of the fungi on various sawdust media composed of different wood species were also analyzed for testing the capability of black locust as a substrate for mushroom production. Mycelial growths decreased proportional when the bulk density increased. The most suitable carbon and nitrogen sources as additives to promote the mycelial growth were sucrose (2%, w/w) and ammonium phosphate (0.2%, w/w) respectively. When corn-powder and beer-waste as natural additives were added to sawdust of black locust showed the significant growth of mycelia. And the optimum mixing ratio was 10:2:1 (sawdust: corn-powder: beer-waste, w/w). Black locust after cold water treatment showed the outstanding mycelial growths. Any significant changes of pH, moisture content (%) and dry-weight losses (%) could not be found among culture substrates (sawdust of black locust, oak and poplar wood) examined before and after harvesting of fruit bodies. Yield of fruit bodies on black locust culture media were comparable with those culture media composed with oak and poplar wood. The present work indicated strongly the potentiality of black locust as raw materials for edible and medicinal mushrooms.