Department of Plant Pathology

Daniel J. Royse

Professor of Plant Pathology
316 Buckhout Lab
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-7322
Email: djr4@psu.edu

Mushrooms on the Move






American Mushroom Institute

Mushroom Production Statistics

RESEARCH

My research program is directed toward improving the biological efficiency and quality of edible mushrooms (shiitake, oyster, maitake, shimeji, enoki, morels and others) to help minimize production costs and maximize farm profits. One emphasis is on genetic improvement through selective breeding, based on a better understanding of the genetic life history of the species being studied. Standard molecular methodology used in these studies include restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, and nucleic acid sequencing. Applications of these methodologies include (1) inheritance studies, (2) cell line identification, (3) determination of phylogenetic relationships, (4) identification of hybrids, and (5) assessment of genetic diversity and population structure. A second emphasis is the development of advanced production technology for specialty mushrooms. This involves discovering substitutes for hardwood logs that have been used to grow many specialty mushrooms and determining the cultural conditions suitable for maximum production in modern controlled-environment mushroom houses.

OUTREACH

We provide growers with crop management information in the form of periodic visits to their farms, printed literature and by way of phone calls, conferences and written correspondence. Last year, printed literature was sent to over 200 growers or potential growers in response to specific requests. Our conferences included the 41st Mushroom Industry Short Course and the 9th Specialty Mushroom Workshop and 4th and 5th Mushroom Review Workshops. Mushroom culture technology demonstrations were held at the University’s Mushroom Test Demonstration Facility (MTDF). Grower meetings and farm walks were held in Berks and Chester counties to address integrated crop management issues for mushroom producers. Additional information was provided by means of articles published in the monthly Mushroom News that is received by 90% of the U.S. mushroom farms.


THE LAB

Excellent facilities in the Department of Plant Pathology, Buckhout Laboratory are available to accommodate my research work. I have two laboratories and an office available for research. General use facilities within the building include a common equipment room, two darkrooms, four walk-in cold rooms, a radioisotope room, a high-capacity liquid nitrogen freezer, a media preparation room, an ice machine, a Milli-Q water purification system, a growth chamber room, two conference rooms, and a library. A common equipment room houses a Beckman L8-80 ultracentrifuge with three rotors and an automated nucleotide sequencer.