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A high-quality genome assembly of Lactarius hatsudake strain JH5

Summary

Scientists have completed a detailed genetic blueprint of the red milk mushroom (Lactarius hatsudake), an edible and medicinal fungus that grows in pine forests. This mushroom is nutritious and has been shown to help with diabetes, boost immunity, and fight harmful bacteria. The new genetic map is much more complete and detailed than previous versions, which will help farmers grow these valuable mushrooms more reliably and sustainably, and could lead to developing better varieties.

Background

Lactarius hatsudake is an edible and medicinal mycorrhizal mushroom found in pine forests with bioactive components including polysaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids, and amino acids. Previous genomic analysis of this species has been limited, hindering large-scale cultivation efforts. The JH5 strain was selected for its rapid growth, high mycorrhizal infection rate, and genetic stability.

Objective

To produce a high-quality genome assembly of L. hatsudake JH5 by combining Illumina and PacBio sequencing technologies. The goal was to provide a genomic resource to facilitate research on functional genomics, molecular breeding, and sustainable cultivation of this economically important mushroom.

Results

The final genome assembly was 76.7 Mb in 312 scaffolds with a contig N50 of 223.2 kb, GC content of 54.38%, and BUSCO completeness of 89.0%. A total of 19,616 genes were annotated with an average length of 1,765 bp. The assembly identified 33,787 repeat sequences and 204 tRNAs, and showed significantly higher quality metrics compared to previously published L. hatsudake genomes.

Conclusion

The high-quality L. hatsudake JH5 genome assembly represents a significant improvement over previous releases and will facilitate research on functional genomics and molecular breeding. This genomic resource provides foundational information for understanding mycorrhiza formation, fruiting body development, and improving large-scale sustainable cultivation of this economically valuable edible and medicinal mushroom.
  • Published in:G3 (Bethesda),
  • Study Type:Genome Assembly Study,
  • Source: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac262, PMID: 36171643
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