Homokaryons are more combative than heterokaryons of Hericium coralloides

The homokaryotic stage of the basidiomycete lifecycle is generally considered to be short lived, although there is little experimental evidence relating to their longevity in the field. The vast majority of studies on basidiomycete ecology have used only heterokaryons. The few investigations comparing related homokaryons and heterokaryons have revealed no overall trend in differences of extension rate, wood decay or competitive ability. For a rare species the homokaryotic phase may be of greater importance than in common species as it is likely to last longer. Hericium coralloides, a rare wood decay basidiomycete, was used to investigate differences between homokaryons and heterokaryons in terms of extension rate and combative ability. Fifteen homokaryons from three fruit bodies and five heterokaryons (obtained by fruit body tissue isolation) were compared at 5–35 °C on malt agar for extension rate, and paired against heterokaryons of 13 wood decay species to assess combative ability. Homokaryons were paired to create ten artificial heterokaryons whose extension rate at 10 and 20 °C was compared to parental rates. There were some significant differences in extension rates between homokaryons and natural heterokaryons, between homokaryons and heterokaryons created artificially from homokaryons, and between homokaryons from different fruit bodies, but no consistent trends. Homokaryons proved more combative than heterokaryons, which was assessed quantitatively as well as qualitatively using a scoring system for outcome of each pairing. Results are discussed in relation to previous findings and in an ecological context.