Somatic hybrids of inter-compatible and inter-incompatible strains were obtained by protoplast fusion. The fusion products between compatible strains, Pleurotus ostreatus and P. florida, formed heterokaryons, while fusants between incompatible strains such as P. cornucopiae + P. florida, P. ostreatus + Ganoderma applanatum, P. florida + Ganoderma lucidum, and P. ostreatus + Flammulina velutipes formed synkaryons that retained genes from both parents. The heterokaryons showed the same level of basidioma development. In contrast, the synkaryons showed unique characteristics including clamp connection formation at mitosis, either partner basidioma development, and abnormal segregation and recombination compared with inter-compatible strains. Synkaryons can be classified into homokaryoyic and heterokaryotic type. A comparison of somatic hybrids with compatible and incompatible strains was made using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. The heterokaryons between compatible species showed the same level of variability and contained both parental RAPD bands. In contrast, most of the synkaryons between incompatible species showed similarity to those of either parental bands and non-parental RAPD bands. Synkaryons can be classified into microgenome insertion type and macrogenome insertion type. A tetrapolar mating system was found among monospore isolates in somatic hybrids and wild type P. ostreatus. Homokaryons from each somatic hybrid combination were paired with tester homokaryons of the initial wild type of P. ostreatus. The changed mating types were identified in progenies. The pattern of mating type switching in somatic hybrids depends on compatibility of fusion partner. There are several factors related to the mechanism of clamp connection formation and fruiting body development of synkaryons. Of these,the major factor may be associated with self-fertility and mating type switching such as homokaryotic fruiting of wild type P. ostreatus. This review will discuss these aspects.