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Genome Assembly of M. spongiola and Comparative Genomics of the Genus Morchella Provide Initial Insights into Taxonomy and Adaptive Evolution

Summary

This research provides the first complete genetic blueprint of Morchella spongiola, an important edible mushroom found in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The study reveals that this mushroom is its own unique species that evolved about 12.85 million years ago, likely due to geological changes in the plateau region. This discovery has important implications for both science and society. Key impacts on everyday life: • Helps improve cultivation methods for this valuable edible mushroom • Enables better identification of genuine M. spongiola in markets • Supports development of new medicines from this mushroom’s compounds • Aids conservation efforts by clarifying the species’ unique identity • Could lead to improved mushroom varieties through selective breeding

Background

Morchella spongiola is a highly prized edible mushroom known for its delicious flavor and medicinal properties. It is one of the dominant macrofungi found in the Qilian Mountains of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Despite its importance, the taxonomy and genomic understanding of M. spongiola remains largely unknown and ambiguous.

Objective

This study aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of M. spongiola through micromorphology, molecular data, genomics, and comparative genomics. The researchers sought to clarify its taxonomy and evolutionary history through genome assembly and comparative analysis with other Morchella species.

Results

A high-quality chromosome-level reference genome of M. spongiola M12-10 was assembled, approximately 57.1 Mb in size with a contig N50 of 18.14 Mb, containing 9,775 protein-coding genes. Comparative genome analysis revealed both conservation and unique characteristics between M. spongiola and other Morchella species. Molecular phylogenetic analysis showed M. spongiola is similar to M. prava/Mes-7, diverging from black morels around 43.06 Mya and from M. parva/Mes-7 approximately 12.85 Mya during the Miocene epoch.

Conclusion

The study confirms that M. spongiola is a distinct species rather than a synonym of M. vulgaris/Mes-5, characterized by its distinctive grey-brown sponge-like ascomata. This represents the first published genome sequence of a Morchella species from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, providing valuable resources for future studies on functional gene identification, germplasm resource management, and molecular breeding efforts.
  • Published in:BMC Genomics,
  • Study Type:Genomic Analysis,
  • Source: 10.1186/s12864-024-10418-8
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