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The tropical black bolete Phlebopus portentosus is highly favored in the cuisine of northern Thailand. It is suspected to form ectomycorrhizae with many host trees. Mycelium of P. portentosus isolated from a basidiome in Chiang Rai Province in 2003 grew well on modified Gamborg, modified Melin-Norkans, and Murashige and Skoog media at 30°C and at pH 4. In vitro fructification of P. portentosus on sorghum grain medium without a host plant is presented for the first time. Basidiomes emerged 3 months after inoculation on the medium, and the produced basidiospores germinated on agar, indicating the completion of its life cycle in vitro without a host. Five putative host plants (Castanopsis tribuloides, Dipterocarpus alatus, Dimocarpus longan, Pinus kesiya, and Syzygium cumini) were inoculated with mycelium on sorghum grain medium in a greenhouse to confirm its ectomycorrhizal status. Ectomycorrhizal roots were observed only on Pinus kesiya, suggesting that P. portentosus may be facultatively ectomycorrhizal. Identification of the synthesized ectomycorrhizae was confirmed by PCR amplification of ITS with a designed specific primer (HAR2A).

Tricholoma fulvocastaneum is recorded from Thailand for the fi rst time. This edible ectomycorrhizal fungus is associated with Castanopsis tribuloides (Fagaceae) in mixed evergreen forest in northern Thailand. Conventional and molecular methods were carried out to confi rm its identity.

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