Effect of sodium chloride on basidiospore germination and vegetative mycelial growth of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Rhizopogon roseolus

Rhizopogon roseolus is a basidiomycetous ectomycorrhizal fungus that inhabits mainly coastal areas. Understanding the response of this fungus to salinity at each stage of its life cycle will lead to elucidation of the strategies for its propagation. This study examined the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) on basidiospore germination and mycelial growth of both homokaryotic and heterokaryotic strains of R. roseolus, on nutrient agar media with varying concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, 150, and 300 mM). Regardless of the presence of NaCl, R. roseolus basidiospores germinated and the germlings grew, forming compatible fusions. In addition, all multispore strains, including homokaryons and heterokaryons, grew under these NaCl conditions. Most of these strains had an effective concentration inhibiting mycelial growth by 50% value greater than 300 mM of NaCl. These results indicate that R. roseolus can germinate, grow, and mate in the presence of NaCl, allowing it to propagate in saline habitats.