Abstract: To investigate the synergistic effects of different cut-log types and inoculation dosages on log degradation and fruiting performance of Tremella aurantialba in wild-simulated cultivation, Juglans regia, Quercus glauca, and Betula platyphylla logs were used as substrates, and three inoculation dosages (low, medium, high) were applied. The microclimate conditions of the cut-log forests, the initial chemical composition of the logs, degradation indicators (dry weight loss rate, lignin and cellulose degradation rates, peak laccase activity), and fruiting performance (fruiting rate, biological efficiency, average fresh weight per fruiting body) were systematically analyzed. The results showed that there were significant interactions between cut-log type and inoculation dosage. The Juglans regia forest had the highest canopy density (85.5%) and air humidity (88.5%), with a relatively high lignin content (24.8%) in its logs; when combined with a medium inoculation dosage, it achieved the optimal fruiting rate (92.3%) and biological efficiency (22.8%). The Quercus glauca forest had the lowest canopy density (77.5%), with the lowest lignin content (22.5%) and the highest cellulose content (46.2%) in its logs; it produced a relatively high yield even at a low inoculation dosage (fruiting rate 85.7%, biological efficiency 18.5%), demonstrating obvious cost-effectiveness. The Betula platyphylla forest had intermediate environmental factors but the highest lignin content (25.1%) in its logs; a high inoculation dosage was required to overcome the substrate limitation, with the fruiting rate increasing from 55.6% (low dosage) to 88.9% (high dosage). Degradation pattern analysis indicated that Betula platyphylla exhibited typical lignin-priority degradation (lignin/cellulose degradation ratio >2), Quercus glauca showed co-degradation (lignin/cellulose degradation ratio≈1), and Juglans regia was intermediate (lignin/cellulose degradation ratio: 1.49-1.52). In conclusion, different cut-log types influenced cultivation performance through the dual pathways of microclimate and substrate characteristics; inoculation dosage could be used as a key measure to regulate degradation pattern and yield. A medium dosage for Juglans regia, a low dosage for Quercus glauca, and a high dosage for Betula platyphylla were the optimal cultivation strategies for each log type.

Key words: Tremella aurantialba, cut-log type, inoculation dose, lignin degradation model, fruiting rate