This article primarily focuses on the production of somatic hybrid sporophores through PEG-mediated protoplast fusion between Calocybe indica var. APK2 and Pleurotus florida. To screen the hybrid strains a selection strategy was followed based on the differential tolerance of NaCl level by the two parental genera. Basidiocarps could be successfully generated from eight out of fourteen hybrid lines that were maintained in culture. Hybridity of the fusant lines was established on the basis of their colony morphology, mycelial growth rate and hyphal traits, while the fruitbody-generating lines were demarcated on the basis of nature of sporophores, isozyme and RAPD markers. The degree to which the hybrid population differed among themselves and from their parents was assessed by analysing each of these morphological variables by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RAPD bands of the fusant lines were similar to either parental bands or were new non-parental bands, which classified them into the microgenome and macrogenome insertion types. A dendrogram created with the help of UPGMA method of clustering and Euclidean distance exhibited three major clusters, in which the Pleurotus-Calocybe hybrids showed intra-cluster variations. Notably, P. florida was genetically distant from the hybrid lines, while C. indica was phylogenetically the dominant parent. Significant increase in bio-efficiency and c-linoleic acid content in these hybrid lines indicated quantitative as well as qualitative improvement of the newly developed somatic hybrids. Keywords Calocybe indica var. APK2 Á Dendrogram Á Isozyme Á Macro-and micro-genome insertion types Á Pleurotus florida Á Polymorphism Á Protoplast fusion Á RAPD markers Á Somatic hybrid Á Sporophore Abbreviations ANOVA Analysis of variance FDA Fluorescein diacetate IOA Iodoacetamide MYG Malt-yeast extract-glucose MYGMA MYG supplemented with 0.6 M mannitol and 1.5% agar MYGNA MYG supplemented with 0.7 M NaCl and 1.5% agar PDA Potato-dextrose-agar RAPD Random amplified polymorphic DNA UPGMA Unweighted pair-group method with mathematic averages

Twelve somatic hybrid lines were raised through polyethylene glycol-mediated intergeneric protoplast fusion between Volvariella volvacea and Pleurotus florida using a double selection method. Four hybrid lines belonging to two distinct colony morphology types could be maintained in culture. Basidiocarps could be generated from two hybrid lines, one of which showed resemblance to the P. florida parent while the other showed intermediate parental morphology. Hybridity of the fusant lines was established on the basis of colony morphology, mycelial growth rate, hyphal traits, fruit body morphology, isozyme and RAPD analysis. Four isozyme activities were analyzed to provide biochemical criteria for detection of polymorphism among the hybrids and their parents. Using 20 random decamers a total of 203 RAPD bands ranging from 0.09 to 1.6 kb were observed. The UPGMA method of clustering exhibited two major phylogenetic clusters, the first of which comprised of the parents, two fruit body generating hybrid lines and their subsequent fruit body derived lines, while the two non-fruit body generating hybrid lines formed the out group of the first major cluster. Screening of a Pleurotus type hybrid line having high biological efficiency and generation of a temperature tolerant Pleurotus type line through backcross mating between a non-fruit body generating somatic hybrid and V. volvacea parent are the key achievements of this fusion programme.

The COVID‐19 pandemic has dramatically affected shared resource lab (SRL) staff in‐person availability at institutions globally. This article discusses the challenges of ensuring reliable instrument performance and quality data output while facility staff and external service provider on‐site presence is severely limited. Solutions revolve around the adoption of remote monitoring and troubleshooting platforms, provision of self‐service troubleshooting resources specific to facility instruments and workflows, development of an assistance contact policy, and ensuring efficiency of limited in‐person staff time. These solutions employ software and hardware tools that are already in use or readily available in the SRL community, such as remote instrument access tools, video hosting and conferencing platforms, and ISAC shared resources. © 2020 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry