Kira Stoletova

Everything on our planet is interconnected. A striking example This is explained by the concept of mushroom root. If you take this word apart, it means the life of a fungus on the root of a plant. This is one of important stages symbiosis, which implies the life of a representative of one class at the expense of another and has the definition of mycorrhiza. But this does not always happen in nature. Some fungi do not form mycorrhizae and develop independently.

What is mushroom root

The concept itself is embedded in the word. This is one of the facts of the existence of a joint tandem between representatives of fungi and plants: the fungus develops on the roots of trees and shrubs, it forms a mycelium that penetrates into the thickness of the plant bark.

There are several types of mycorrhizal fungi that can develop both on the surface layers and penetrate directly into the thickness of the root, sometimes piercing it through. This is especially true for bushes.

The mushroom feeds at the expense of its “host” - and this is an indisputable fact. But if you conduct detailed research, you can emphasize the benefits for each party.

At the same time, the mushroom itself also helps the plant to develop normally, providing it with the necessary nutritional components. It makes the roots of the plant more loose, due to the fact that they are intertwined with mycelium. The porous structure allows the plant to absorb more moisture and, accordingly, additional nutrients.

At the same time there is extra quality- ability to extract nutrients from different types soil As a result, when a tree is unable to obtain the necessary components from environment, the mycorrhizal fungus comes to the rescue, delivering for itself and its owner an additional portion for life and development. Which will prevent both representatives from drying out.

Varieties

The following fungi form mycorrhizae with roots:

1. Myccorisa ectotrophyca – spreads only in the upper layers;
2. Myccorisa endotrophyca - the mycelium develops in the thickness of the root, sometimes piercing the body almost right through;
3. Ectotrophyca, endotrophyca myccorisa (mixed type) - characterized by the peculiarity of each of the upper species, spreading its mycelium both on the surface and in the thickness of the root;
4. Peritrophyca myccorisa is a simplified form of symbiosis and at the same time a new stage in development. It is located near the root without penetration of shoots.

What fungi form mycorrhiza with roots?

The group of the above types includes many representatives of edible and inedible classes:

• Gymnosperms;
• Monocots;
• Dicotyledons.

Their representatives are considered to be the beloved porcini mushrooms, aspen mushrooms, honey mushrooms, chanterelles, and boletus mushrooms. Some types of fungi got their name precisely due to their distribution on a specific plant representative. For example, aspen and boletus, birch and boletus, as well as others.

It is worth noting that a representative of the poisonous class, the fly agaric, forms its mycelium on the surface coniferous trees. And although it is not edible, it provides its “owner” with 100% nutritional components.

Fungi that do not form mycorrhizae

Conclusion

In the world there are both fungi that do not form mycorrhiza and those that do. Among all the listed species there are both edible and poisonous. But it is necessary to understand that each representative is very important, it performs certain functions in nature and without it, perhaps some vital biological processes would not occur.

In the natural environment one can often find interactions that seem impossible at first glance between various kinds of animals or birds, insects and plants. We will consider one of them, namely the interaction between plants and fungi today: fungal root or mycorrhiza, what is it?

Did you know? Mushrooms are interesting works of nature: they are eaten, extracts are made from them for medicines, produce cosmetics. Yves Rocher released a line of cosmetics for middle-aged women based on an extract from shiitake mushrooms. The active substances of these mushrooms, penetrating into the skin cells, nourish them and accelerate regeneration.

Mycorrhiza - what is it?

To understand what a mushroom root is, it is necessary to consider the structure of the mushroom. The fruiting body of the mushroom consists of a cap and a stalk, but the most interesting thing is the hyphae or thin threads that intertwine to form the mycelium (mycelium). This organ of the fungus serves both for nutrition and for reproduction (formation of spores), as well as for the formation of mycorrhiza.

What is mycorrhiza? This is simply a combination of fungal mycelium with the root system of plants. Fungal roots and plant roots intertwine, sometimes the fungus penetrates into root system plants, which is done for fruitful cooperation of both parties.

What is mycorrhiza by definition? This is a symbiotic habitation of fungi on the surface of the root system or in root tissues higher plants.

To better understand the effect of mycorrhiza, let's consider its types. There are three main types of mycorrhizae: ectotrophic, endotrophic and ectoendotrophic. In its biological essence, the first type is external or superficial enveloping of the roots with mycelium, the second type is characterized by penetration into the root tissue, and the third type is a mixed interaction.

So, we have found out what mycorrhiza is in biology and now we know that such cooperation is typical for almost all plants: herbaceous plants, trees, shrubs. The absence of such a symbiosis is rather an exception to the general rule.

Properties of mycorrhiza for growing plants

Let's take a closer look at what mycorrhiza is and what its functions are beneficial for plants. Mushroom mycelium is capable of producing special proteins, which are some kind of catalysts in nature. In addition, mycelium digests and breaks down nutrients in the soil, from plant residues to organic and inorganic elements from humus. Plants are able to absorb only easily soluble elements of humus and here they have many competitors: this and weeds, and microbes living in the soil.

–This is a mutually beneficial symbiosis of plants and fungi. Plants receive nutrients and water, and fungi receive carbohydrates produced by plants. Without carbohydrates, mushrooms are not able to reproduce and grow fruiting bodies. Plants provide up to 40% of carbohydrates.

The role of mycorrhiza in plant life cannot be overestimated. Mycorrhiza supplies them with vitamins, minerals, enzymes and hormones. Thanks to mycelium, the plant root system increases the absorption area of ​​useful elements such as phosphorus, potassium and other stimulating substances. Moreover, it not only serves as a nutrition supplier, but also doses it correctly.

Plants grow more actively, during the flowering period they form more inflorescences with fruitful flowers and, accordingly, fruiting increases. Plants become immune to stress and weather conditions: drought, heavy rainfall, sudden temperature changes. Fungi, forming mycorrhiza with plant roots, act as protectors against some diseases of the latter, such as, for example, fusarium or late blight.

Thanks to its ability to digest and break down organic and inorganic humus compounds, mycorrhiza cleanses the soil for plants from excess salts and acids.

Did you know? In nature, there are predatory mushrooms that feed on living organisms, worms. These mushrooms grow mycelium in the form of rings that act as traps. The adhesive-backed rings tighten like a noose when the victim is caught in them. The more the prey twitches, the tighter the trap tightens.

Mycorrhizal vaccinations

It is rare that mushrooms do not form mycorrhizae, because this symbiosis has existed since the beginning of the development of flora on earth. Unfortunately, on summer cottages mycorrhiza is often destroyed as a result of long-term use of chemicals; mycorrhiza also dies during construction. Therefore, to help their plants, gardeners vaccinate.

Mycorrhiza vaccine - This is a preparation in the form of a powder or liquid that contains particles of living mushroom mycelium. After a kind of inoculation of the soil, fungal bacteria begin to cooperate with the root system of plants, which forms natural mycorrhiza.

Mycorrhizal vaccines are also popular today for indoor flowers, There is large selection for vegetables, garden flowering and herbaceous plants, as well as coniferous plants such as hydrangeas, rhododendrons, heather and roses. When vaccinating, it should be remembered that the root system of very old trees is too deep and is not suitable for mycorrhiza.

Important! The mycorrhizal vaccine is carried out once in the life of the plant, and each plant interacts and forms mycorrhiza with certain fungi. There is no one mycorrhiza suitable for all plants.

Features of the use of mycorrhiza for plants

The mycorrhizal preparation is applied by watering or spraying crops and directly into the soil. When vaccinating into the soil, make several shallow holes right in the ground near the plant and pour the vaccine into it.

Many people are interested in the question “Which plants do not form mycorrhizae and with which fungi is this symbiosis also impossible?” Today, there are few plants known that do well without mycorrhiza: these are some species of the Cruciferous, Amaranth and Chenopodiaceae families. Mushrooms that do not form mycorrhiza - umbrellas, oyster mushrooms, champignons, dung beetles, honey mushrooms.

The mycorrhiza preparation should be used after harvesting, that is, in the fall. Over the winter, mushrooms form mycorrhiza with the roots of dormant plants, and in the spring the results will be noticeable. Unlike plants, mushrooms do not go into suspended animation in winter and continue to be active. If you use the drug in the spring, its active effect will be noticeable the next year.

The use of mycorrhiza is relevant when transplanting crops to a new or permanent place after rooting of seedlings. The effect of the drug will reduce plant stress and accelerate its adaptation. After vaccination with mycorrhiza preparations, significant growth and more accelerated development of crops are observed.

Important!-this is not a fertilizer, and should be combined with chemicals It is not recommended as it can be destroyed by them. Fertilizing is carried out exclusively with organic fertilizers.

• Powdered preparations for indoor plants are introduced into the potting soil, then watered. The composition in the form of an emulsion is drawn into a syringe and injected directly into the root system into the soil.
• After grafting, the plant is not fertilized for two months. Fungicides are not used during this period.
• More effective for flowerpots are graftings containing particles of living mycelium rather than fungal spores. These include gel compositions with living mycelium, which form mycorrhizae immediately, while spores do not have the conditions to develop in a closed pot.

Advantages and disadvantages of using mycorrhiza in plant life

The main advantages of using fungal root:

In nature there are many very interesting adaptations that help creatures live. They are found in both animals and plants, fungi, bacteria and others. It's amazing how inventive and unique the natural environment is! One has only to remember the diversity of species of various living beings, and this uniqueness becomes obvious.

One of these wonders of living nature is an interesting symbiosis between representatives of different kingdoms - the fungus root - a phenomenon that helps to survive in conditions of fierce competition for nutrients. What is a fungal root, or mycorrhiza? We will expand on this concept throughout the article.

general characteristics

To begin with, you should generally remember who mushrooms are and what they are? In biology there is a special section, a separate discipline, the purpose of which is to study these organisms. It's called mycology. According to the latest data, today more than one hundred thousand are known various types fungi, both unicellular and multicellular.

Fungi occupy a special position in the system of the organic world due to the presence of a number of characteristic features in structure and lifestyle. Therefore, they are all united into a separate kingdom.

Distinctive features of mushrooms

What are these features? It's all about the similarity of representatives with both plants and animals. For a long time this baffled scientists. After all, creatures turn out to be unique and incomprehensible, since they combine the characteristics of completely opposite organisms.

So, to general features that combine fungi with plants include:

• the ability to synthesize phytohormones and vitamins inside the body;
• unlimited apical growth throughout life;
• attached lifestyle (lack of ability to move);
• the presence of a strong cell wall;
• nutrition by absorption of substances.

However, there are signs that make the organisms in question similar to animals:

• heterotrophic mode of nutrition (that is, consumption of ready-made organic compounds, the impossibility of their independent synthesis inside the body);
• presence in the cell wall complex carbohydrate chitin, which makes up the integument of crustaceans, insects and other animals.

General plan of the structure of the mushroom

The main feature in the structure of the organisms under consideration is the hyphae, which form the mycelium and, in higher basidiomycetes, fruiting bodies. They are thin threads, white or translucent, which consist of cells separated by septa. The hyphae branch strongly, intertwine, grow together and form a large underground network - a mycelium. On the outside, they form the fruiting body of higher mushrooms - the stem and cap.

In all other representatives, hyphae serve only to form the mycelium. The latter is needed for the absorption of nutrients, vegetative reproduction, spore formation and the sexual process.

It takes part in the formation of the fungal root. Therefore, what mycorrhiza is becomes clear if you know what the organism itself is represented by. This is a combination of the underground part of mushrooms with the roots of higher plants. A kind of mutually beneficial cooperation that helps both creatures survive.

Thus, the hyphae of the fungus form mycelium, it intertwines with the roots and mycorrhiza, or fungal root, is formed. This is main feature in the structure and lifestyle of a significant part of the representatives of the kingdom in question.

What is mycorrhiza in biology: definition

If we consider this unique phenomenon from a scientific point of view, then one can only once again be surprised at the skill of living beings in adapting to survival. You can give a more precise concept of what mycorrhiza is in biology using a definition. This is a symbiotic relationship between fungi and plants, which is carried out through the close interweaving of mycelium and roots in the underground environment.

The term "mycorrhiza" was proposed back in 1885 by the scientist Frank. The existence of this phenomenon became known four years earlier. What is fungal mycorrhiza was explained in 1881 by the Russian scientist F.I. Kamensky. It was he who first studied and described the fungal root.

Almost everyone enters into similar relationships with mushrooms, not only with those that we are used to seeing and collecting in the forest, but also with smaller ones, even underground ones. Such a symbiosis turned out to be so successful and beneficial for both parties that the absence of mycorrhiza in the plant is considered an exception in nature.

What classes of fungi are capable of this phenomenon?

1. Basidiomycetes (hymenomycetes, gasteromycetes).
2. Ascomycetes (most species).
3. Zygomycetes (some species).

What plants are able to enter into symbiosis with fungal mycelium?

1. Almost all perennial representatives belonging to a wide variety of life forms (herbs, shrubs, trees).
2. Very rarely annual plants.

In general, those representatives that live on the surface of the water and in its thickness do not form fungal roots.

Classification

We found out what mycorrhiza is and gave it a definition. Now let’s look at what types of fungus roots there are, because it turns out that not everything is so simple. There is a classification that reflects the variants of such a symbiosis.

There are three main types of mycorrhiza:

• endotrophic (“endo” - inside);
• ectotrophic (“ecto” - outside);
• mixed, or endectotrophic.

Let's take a closer look at each specified type.

Endotrophic mycorrhiza

What is endotrophic mycorrhiza? This is an interaction between the fungus and the root of the plant, in which the mycelium is not located outside at all, but is completely absorbed inside. Hyphae penetrate under the integumentary cells and develop inside the roots themselves, sucking out the juices of the plant. In this case, some part of the mycelium dissolves and goes to food.

An interesting feature is that endophytic fungi are inherited in the same plant species. That is, the spores penetrate the pollen, from there they enter the seed, and the new plant organism from birth has its own endophyte fungus in its composition.

The presence of mycelium inside the root does not in any way affect its normal development, branching, and so on. The mushroom goes unnoticed from the outside at all.

Exotrophic mycorrhiza

To the question of what exotrophic mycorrhiza is, the answer is obvious. It is logical to conclude that this is a visible formation from the outside. This is true. Ectophytic mushrooms have a well-developed, powerful, branching mycelium. The hyphae envelop the roots of the plant so tightly that they form a kind of cover. In this case, the root hairs die off as unnecessary.

Individual threads of hyphae can penetrate under the integumentary tissues of the plant, but do not enter the cells themselves. This type of fungal root most often forms between trees and agaric mushrooms. That's why many edible species people find whole families in the shade of the crown of a tree.

Mixed mycorrhiza

What is mixed type mycorrhiza? This is a kind of symbiosis of endo- and ecto-fungi with plant roots at the same time. The most common type of mushroom root. Another name is endectomycorrhiza.

Obviously, the essence of this phenomenon lies in the simultaneous penetration of hyphae into the root cells and at the same time the formation of a dense cover from them on the outside. Most often, such a symbiosis is observed between cap agaric mushrooms and various trees. Example: boletus, boletus, fly agaric, and others.

Many species cannot exist at all without mycorrhiza, so methods for their artificial cultivation have not yet been found.

The importance of mycorrhiza in the life of a mushroom

Now we know what mycorrhiza is. And its meaning should not remain a secret either. It's obvious that main role- exchange nutrients between two different organisms.

What do plants get as a result of such symbiosis?

1. The suction surface area increases due to multiple branching of the hyphae.
2. The mushroom provides water and minerals.
3. The plant receives hormones and vitamins.
4. The fungus converts many compounds into a form that can be absorbed by plants (for example, potassium salts, calcium salts, sodium salts, phosphorus salts, and so on).

What does a mushroom get from a plant?

1. mainly of carbohydrate nature.
2. Amino acids.
3. Some phytohormones and growth substances.

Thus, mycorrhiza is a completely mutually beneficial cooperation, often vital for both parties.

From the definition of the term mycorrhiza given at the beginning of the section, it follows that this is a symbiosis of fungi with the roots of higher plants.

In this regard, symbiotrophic fungi involved in the formation of mycorrhizae are called mycorrhizal fungi, or mycorrhiza-formers. Isolated from mycorrhizas into culture, these fungi (Shemakhanova, 1962) do not form any reproductive organs by which their systematic position could be directly determined. Therefore, different methods have been used at different times to identify mycorrhizal fungi and their association with a particular tree species or other plant.

The simplest method of direct observation in nature is based on external communications, existing between mycorrhiza and ground, mainly cap mushrooms. The connections between mushrooms and plants have been noticed for a long time, and on this basis the names of mushrooms are given according to the tree in the forest under which they grow, for example: boletus, or birch, - under a birch; boletus, or aspen, - under the aspen. The close connection between fungi and plants is evidenced by the spider web mushroom (Cortinarius hemitridus), which, in the apt expression of E. Melin, an outstanding researcher of mycorrhizae of tree species, follows the birch like “a dolphin follows a ship.” Observations in nature served as starting points for subsequent research and have not lost their importance to this day as an auxiliary method.

Mycorrhiza-forming fungi are identified by fungal hyphae as growing in natural conditions, and grown in pure culture, by the serological method, by the method of semi-sterile and sterile cultures. In the process of application, the methods were modified and improved. For example, to determine the types of mycorrhiza-formers, a method for identifying mycorrhizal mycelium with soil mycelium of fungi considered mycorrhiza-forming was proposed (Vanin and Akhremovich, 1952). The most accurate and reliable method for resolving the question of the actual participation of certain fungi in the formation of mycorrhizae is the method of pure cultures of fungi and the method of sterile cultures of mycorrhizae.

Using various research methods and especially the pure culture method, scientists determined the composition of mycorrhiza-forming fungi for many tree species: pine, spruce, larch, oak, birch and other coniferous and deciduous species.

Many scientists in our country and abroad have compiled lists of mycorrhizal fungi of various forest tree species. At the same time, different authors cite either a larger or smaller number of fungi that take part in the formation of mycorrhizae of one or another species.

With regard to the systematic composition of fungi involved in the formation of ectotrophic mycorrhizae, all researchers believe that mycorrhiza-forming fungi belong predominantly to the orders Aphyllophorales and Agaricales of the class of basidiomycetes. In this case, the most frequently named genera of fungi that form ectotrophic mycorrhiza of tree species are: Amanita, Boletus, Cantharellus, Hebe-loma, Lactarius, Tricholoma, etc. Representatives of the order Gasteromycetes (Gasteromycetales) from basidiomycetes, for example, Geaster, Rhisopogon, take part in the formation of mycorrhizae ; from the class of marsupial fungi (Ascomycetes), for example, Gyromitra, Tuber; from imperfect fungi (Fungi inperfecti), for example Phoma, as well as from other systematic categories.

On the composition of mycorrhiza-forming fungi, their association with some of the main tree species growing in the territory Soviet Union, does not indicate full list, compiled primarily from published materials.

The given list of fungi that form ectotrophic mycorrhiza with the roots of some tree species indicates that their number varies among different species. There are 47 species of mycorrhiza-forming fungi in pine, 39 in oak, 27 in fir, 26 in birch and 21 in spruce. At the same time, mycorrhizal fungi include fungi from both the group of orders Hymenomycetes and Gasteromycetes of the Basidiamycetes class, and from the class of marsupial fungi. Other tree species have fewer mycorrhizal fungi, for example, larch has only 15 species, aspen has 6 species, and linden has even fewer - 4 species.

In addition to the quantitative composition by species and belonging to certain systematic categories, mycorrhizal fungi differ in biological features. Thus, mycorrhizal fungi differ in the degree to which they are confined in their development to the roots of certain plants and in their specialization.

Most fungi involved in ectotrophic mycorrhiza are not specialized on one particular host plant, but form mycorrhiza with many types of tree species. For example, the red fly agaric (Amanita muscaria Quel.) is capable of forming mycorrhizae with many coniferous and deciduous tree species. Some species of Boletus, Lactarius, Russula are poorly specialized, the fruiting bodies of which are often found in combination with certain types of forest trees. For example, late butterflower (Boletus luteus L.-Ixocomus) grows in pine and spruce forest and is associated with the formation of mycorrhiza on pine: birch grass (Boletus scaber Bull. var. scaber Vassilkov-Krombholzia) forms mycorrhiza mainly on the roots of birch.

The least specialized among all the mycorrhiza-formers of forest trees is the indiscriminate Cenoccocum graniforme. This fungus is found in the root system of pine, spruce, larch, oak, beech, birch, linden and others 16 woody plants(J. Harley, 1963). The lack of specialization and promiscuity in relation to the substrate of the coenococcus indicates widespread it even in soils in which none of the known hosts of the fungus grow. Other non-specialized fungi, for example, boletus bovinus L.-Ixocomus and common birch (Boletus scaber Bull. var. scaber Vassilkov-Kroincholzia) can be found in the soil in the form of mycelial strands or rhizomorphs.

The low specialization of mycorrhizal fungi is also manifested in the fact that sometimes several mycorrhizal fungi form ectotrophic mycorrhiza on the roots of the same tree species in natural forest conditions. Such ectotrophic mycorrhiza of the root of one tree or a branch of the root, formed by various symbiont fungi, is called by some scientists multiple infection (Levison, 1963). Just as most mycorrhizal fungi do not have strict specialization with respect to plant species, host plants do not have specialization with respect to fungi. Most host plant species can form mycorrhizae with several species of fungi, i.e., the same tree can simultaneously be a symbiont of several species of fungi.

Thus, the composition of fungi that form ectotrophic mycorrhiza is diverse in terms of systematic characteristics and biological characteristics. Most of them belong to slightly specialized illegible forms that form mycorrhizae with coniferous and deciduous tree species and are found in the soil in the form of mycelial strands and rhizomorphs. Only some mycorrhizal fungi have a narrower specialization limited to one plant genus.

The composition of fungi that form endotrophic mycorrhiza is no less diverse. Endotrophic mycorrhizal fungi belong to different systematic categories. Here, first of all, a distinction is made between endotrophic mycorrhiza, formed by lower fungi, in which the mycelium is noncellular, nonseptate, and higher fungi with multicellular, septate mycelium. Endotrophic mycorrhiza, formed by fungi with nonseptate mycelium, is sometimes called phycomycete mycorrhiza, since lower fungi of the class Phycomycetes have nonseptate mycelium. The mycelium of phycomycete mycorrhiza is characterized by a large diameter of hyphae, its endophytic distribution in the tissues of the plant root and the formation of arbuscules and vesicles inside the tissues. For this reason, endotrophic mycorrhiza is sometimes also called vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza.

The group of fungi Rhizophagus takes part in the formation of phycomycete endotrophic mycorrhiza, consisting of two phycomycetes Endogone and Pythium, which are very different from each other in cultural and other characteristics.

The composition of endophytic mycorrhiza fungi with septate mycelium varies depending on the type of mycorrhiza and the group of plants from whose roots it is formed. Orchids (Orchidaceae) have long attracted the attention of botanists for their diversity of forms, methods of reproduction and distribution, and economic value. These fungi have also been studied from the point of view of mycorrhiza, since all representatives of this family are susceptible to infection by fungi and contain fungal mycelium in the cells of the cortex of their absorbing organs. Orchid fungi constitute a separate group in many respects: they have septate mycelium with buckles, and according to this feature they are classified as basidiomycetes. But since they do not form fruiting bodies in culture, they are classified as imperfect stages, the genus Rhizoctonia-Rh. lenuginosa, Rh. repens, etc.

At different times, many species of Rhizoctonia, including perfect stages of basidiomycetes, such as Corticium catoni, were isolated and described from seeds and adult orchid plants. The mycelium of basidiomycetes with buckles, isolated from orchids, is assigned to one or another genus based on its fruiting bodies and other characteristics. For example, Marasmius coniatus forms mycorrhiza with Didymoplexis, and Xeritus javanicus with Gastrodia species. Honey fungus (Armillaria mellea Quel) does not form buckles, but it is easy to identify in its vegetative form by its rhizomorphs. It is a mycorrhiza-former in the galeola vine (Galeola septentrional is), gastrodia (Gastrodia) and other orchids.

Heather fungi (Ericaceae) were originally isolated from the roots of lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis idaea), heather (Erica carnea) and heather (Andromedia polifolia). In culture, these fungi formed pycnidia and were called Phoma radicis with 5 races. Each race was named after the plant from which it was isolated. Subsequently, it was proven that this fungus is a mycorrhiza-former of heathers.

Very little is known about the fungi that form peritrophic mycorrhiza. In all likelihood, this includes some soil fungi that can be found in the rhizosphere of different tree species under different soil conditions.

All types of fungi described in this article are mycorrhizal. In other words, they form mycorrhizae (or fungal roots) with certain tree species and live with them for years in a strong symbiosis.

Mushrooms receive organic matter from the tree: carbohydrates in the form of tree sap with sugars, amino acids, some vitamins, growth and other substances they need. With the help of mycorrhiza, the tree extracts nitrogenous products, minerals, phosphorus and potassium, and water.

Mushrooms become attached to certain forest species and cannot live without them. But at the same time, they are very picky: they love well-warmed soil, rich in forest humus.

The development of mushrooms is influenced by many factors: air humidity and temperature, lighting conditions, soil moisture, and so on.

Without their favorite tree species, mycorrhizal fungi do not bear fruit at all. In turn, trees often become weaker and sicker without their mushroom brothers. Thus, larch and pine seedlings that do not have mycorrhiza simply die on nutrient-poor soil. And vice versa, in close collaboration with mushrooms they successfully develop in these same places.

The host tree stimulates the growth of mycelium (mycelium) only if it lacks minerals obtained from soil. Therefore, porcini mushrooms are more likely to appear on poor sandy soil than on fertile soil. The question arises, how to force forest mushrooms grow in the garden?

There is only one way - to artificially inoculate mycelium with their green partners. Growing mycorrhizal fungi is possible only outdoors and under mycorrhizal trees.

The main thing is to preserve the inseparable pair of mushrooms and trees, without which the full development of a mushroom culture is impossible. This means it is necessary to create favorable conditions, close to those in which these fungi exist in wildlife. To do this, at a minimum, you need the presence of appropriate tree species in your garden - birch, aspen, pine, spruce, larch, and so on.

In addition to cultivating valuable and popular mycorrhizal mushrooms, mushroom growers have repeatedly tried to grow yellow chanterelles (Cantharellus cibarius), white milk mushrooms (Russula delica) and true milk mushrooms (Lactarius resimus) in the garden under a birch tree, and funnel mushrooms (Craterellus cornucopioides) under several deciduous trees; Polish sucker and chestnut mushrooms; russula under the most different breeds trees and black milk mushrooms under spruce and birch.

WHITE MUSHROOM

The most important trumpet mushroom of the Russian forest is porcini mushroom(Boletus edulis), otherwise called boletus or ladybird.

It grows from the beginning of June to the end of October in deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests, in parks and gardens, along paths and abandoned roads, on the edges, along the slopes of ditches, in old dugouts and trenches, sometimes in thickets of bushes, after a drought in moss along swamps and drained swamps, but not in the dampest places (under birch, pine, spruce and oak trees); alone and in groups, often, annually.

The cap of the porcini mushroom reaches a diameter of 10 and even 30 cm. In youth it is round, hemispherical, in maturity it is cushion-shaped, in old age it can straighten to prostrate-convex, prostrate and depressed.

The cap is smooth, sometimes wrinkled in dry weather, often matte, shiny and slightly slimy in rain. The edge of the cap is leathery, often acute-angled.

The color of the cap depends on the time of year, humidity and temperature, as well as on the tree species next to which the mycorrhiza mushroom grows and forms: gray-ocher, gray-brown, ocher-brown, brown, chestnut, chestnut-brown, brown-brown and dark brown, lighter towards the edges.

The coloring is often uneven, the cap may be covered with multi-colored or blurry white spots, and late autumn fade to whitish, marbled gray and greenish. Young mushrooms grown under fallen leaves or under a birch tree may be uncolored and have a completely white cap.

The tubular layer is finely porous, consisting of free, deeply notched or adherent tubes up to 4 cm long.

In youth it is white, in maturity it is yellow or yellow-greenish, in old age it is yellow-green or olive-yellow, turning brown.

The leg of the porcini mushroom grows in length up to 10 and even 20 cm, in thickness up to 5 and even 10 cm. In youth it is thick, tuberous, and in maturity it lengthens, becoming club-shaped or widened towards the base.

It is solid, smooth, sometimes wrinkled, white, ocher, brownish or brownish, with a light mesh pattern, which is especially noticeable in the upper part of the leg.

The pulp is fleshy, dense, white, with a pleasant mushroom smell or almost odorless and with a nutty taste. The color does not change when broken.

BOROVIK

Boletus, or white pine mushroom (Boletus pinicola), grows on sandy soils, in green and white moss, in grass in pine forests and in forests mixed with pine from mid-May in warm and humid spring to early November in warm autumn. As the latest Carpathian experience shows, it can also grow under other tree species, such as spruce and beech.

The boletus cap reaches a diameter of 20 cm. It is very fleshy, hemispherical in youth, convex in maturity, sometimes with a tuberculate surface, and cushion-shaped in old age.

The skin is smooth or velvety, and looks slightly sticky in the rain. The edge is often lighter than the middle, sometimes pinkish.

The color of the cap is burgundy, olive-brown, chestnut-brown, chocolate and dark red-brown, sometimes with a bluish and even purple tint.

Young mushrooms grown under moss may be uncolored and have a whitish or pink cap with a beautiful marbled pattern.

The tubular layer is white in youth, darkens with age to a yellowish, and then yellowish-olive color.

The tubes are up to 4 cm long, but noticeably shorten where they grow to the stem.

The leg of the boletus grows up to 12 cm in length. It is thick, very dense, club-shaped, and has a strong thickening at the base; white, white-pinkish, yellow-pinkish, yellow-brownish or reddish-brown and covered with a noticeable reddish or yellow-brown reticulate pattern.

The pulp is dense, white, reddish under the skin of the cap and stem, does not change color when broken, has a pleasant taste and pungent smell of raw potatoes. NOTE

Porcini mushroom and boletus are considered one of the highest quality, tasty and nutritious mushrooms. They make excellent soups with a light, clear broth, fry, dry (very fragrant), freeze, salt and pickle. When properly dried, the pulp remains light in color, unlike moss mushrooms and boletuses.

You can fry without pre-boiling, or just to be on the safe side, boil for about 10 minutes. In some countries Western Europe The porcini mushroom is used raw in salads, but I would protect my stomach from such shocks.

COMMON BORTOWER

One of the most common, most unpretentious, but highly respected trumpet mushrooms is the common boletus (Leccinum scabrum).

The people gave him many names: obabok, grandma, spiker, birch, podgreb and gray mushroom.

Boletus grows in birch forests and forests mixed with birch, under single birch trees in the forest, in bushes and woodlands, including tundra, along roads and ditches, in gardens and on grassy city lawns from mid-May to the first ten days of November, singly and in groups, annually.

The cap of the boletus reaches a diameter of 10 and even 20 cm. In youth it is hemispherical, in maturity it becomes convex or cushion-shaped; usually it is smooth, dry, matte, and slightly sticky in the rain.

The cap is yellow-brown, brownish, gray-brown, brown-brown, chestnut-brown, dark brown and black-brown, sometimes almost white with a pinkish tint and gray, often spotted.

The skin of the cap is not removed during cooking.

The tubes are up to 3 cm long, with a notch at the stem or almost free. The tubular layer in youth is finely porous, whitish and grayish, darkening in maturity to dirty gray or gray-brown, often with whitish spots, convex, spongy, easily separated from the pulp.

The stem of the boletus grows up to 12 and even 20 cm long, and up to 4 cm thick. It is cylindrical, slightly thinner towards the cap and sometimes noticeably thickens towards the base, hard, solid, whitish with longitudinal whitish fibrous scales, which darken to dark with age. gray, brown, black-brown and even black.

The pulp is watery, dense and tender in youth, rather quickly becomes loose, flabby, and in the stem it turns into hard fibrous. It is white or grayish-white, at the base of the leg it can be yellowish or greenish, does not change color at the break; with a faint pleasant mushroom smell and taste.

Porcini mushrooms and boletus mushrooms compete with each other, so it is better to sow their spores under birch trees on different areas garden Boletus mushrooms have an undeniable advantage over noble mushrooms and boletuses - with proper care, its harvests will be more frequent and higher.

With regular watering, boletus mushrooms will appear under birch trees on their own.

When bearing fruit, boletus removes a lot of potassium from the soil. If the garden is not located in potassium-rich lowlands, then at the beginning of each season it is necessary to replenish potassium and other minerals.

To do this, water the soil around the tree with two buckets of solution (at the rate of 10 g of potassium chloride and 15 g of superphosphate per 1 bucket).

When preparing “seed material” from old caps, boletus spores mostly remain mixed with the pulp and do not precipitate well, so you need to use a suspension of their spores along with the pulp.

PLEASE NOTE

There are more than ten types of boletus, including the more famous ones, such as blackhead, swamp, smoky and pinkish.

Of these, the one that can most often be found in gardens is the not very tasty swamp boletus (Leccinum holopus), which is best collected at a young age and preferably just the caps.