A new commercial cultivar ‘GARES-HM-16-1’ of Hypsizigus marmoreus was developed by the method of mono-mono crossing between monokaryotic strains derived from KNR8047 and KNR8080. The parental strains are characterized by the property of high quality and a short period of time in cultivation respectively. The optimum temperature of mycelial growth was 25°C and that of fruiting body development was 15~16°C. The period of harvesting including primordia formation was 20.0 days shorter than that of control strain Mangadak No.2. The color of pileus and stipe surface was neutral-brown and pure white, respectively. The yield was 123.7±14.8g/850cc plastic bottle. Analysis of the genetic characteristics of the new commercial cultivar ‘GARES-HM-16-1’ showed a different profile as that of the control strain, Mangadak No.2, when RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) primer was used. This new cultivar ‘GARES-HM-16-1’ of Hypsizigus marmoreus is characterized by the improved quality and a short period of time in cultivation after scratching. It would be of much help to expand the cultivation area of Hypsizigus marmoreus.

A new commercial cultivar ‘Hae Sal’ of Hypsizigus marmoreus was developed by the method of mono-mono crossing between monokaryotic strains derived from KNR8047 and KNR8080. The parental strains are characterized by the property of high quality and a short period of time in cultivation respectively. The optimum temperature of mycelial growth was 25°C and that of fruiting body development was 15～16°C. The period of harvesting including primordia formation was 7.0 days shorter than that of control strain ‘Mangadak No.2’. The color of pileus and stipe surface was neutral-brown and pure white, respectively. The yield was 117.6±23.2g/850cc plastic bottle. Analysis of the genetic characteristics of the new commercial cultivar ‘Hae Sal’ showed a different profile as that of the control strain, ‘Mangadak No.2’, when RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) primer was used. This new cultivar ‘Hae Sal’ of Hypsizigus marmoreus is characterized by the improved quality and a short period of time in cultivation after scratching. It would be of much help to expand the cultivation area of Hypsizigus marmoreus.

Human hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a serious public health problem worldwide, as it is one of the main risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cross-species transmission of HBV has been reported in non-human primates, and pigs may also be infected with HBV or an HBV-like agent. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the presence of HBV antigens and anti-HBV antibodies in pig sera, providing further support for the existence of HBV or an HBV-like agent in pig populations. The HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV e antigen (HBeAg) in pig serum samples were detected using HBsAg and HBeAg ELISA Kits, respectively. Antibodies to HBsAg and the Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) in serum samples were also detected using anti-HBsAg and anti-HBcAg antibody ELISA Kits, respectively. HBsAg and HBeAg were detected in 7 of 442 (1.6%) and 7 of 184 (3.8%) pig serum samples, respectively. Furthermore, antibodies specific to HBsAg and HBcAg were identified in 45 of 442 (10.2%) and 39 of 434 (9.0%) pig serum samples, respectively. However, neither HBV DNA nor antibodies to HBeAg were detected in 409 and 298 pig serum samples, respectively. HBV antigens and anti-HBV antibodies were both present in a considerable number of pig serum samples, suggesting that pigs could be infected with a variant HBV or an HBV-like agent. Further studies will be necessary to confirm cross-species infection of pigs with HBV.