Comparative transcriptomic insights into the domestication of Pleurotus abieticola for coniferous cultivation

Author: mycolabadmin
1/10/2024
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Summary

Researchers studied a special mushroom called Pleurotus abieticola that can grow on coniferous trees like spruce and larch. Usually, mushrooms prefer broadleaf trees, but this species can thrive on conifer wood, which makes up 70% of Chinese forests. By analyzing the mushroom’s genes and growth conditions, scientists found the best ways to cultivate it and discovered it’s rich in protein and beneficial compounds. This breakthrough could help create sustainable mushroom farming using forest resources that were previously underutilized.

Background

Pleurotus abieticola is a promising edible fungus with the unique ability to utilize coniferous substrates for cultivation. While conifers account for approximately 70% of forest resources in China, they contain terpenoids and phenols that typically inhibit mushroom growth. Understanding P. abieticola’s adaptation mechanisms could enable sustainable commercial cultivation using abundant coniferous resources.

Objective

This study aimed to characterize the biological features, nutritional composition, and domestication potential of P. abieticola, while investigating its adaptability to coniferous substrates through transcriptomic analysis. The research sought to identify key genes and metabolic pathways enabling P. abieticola to thrive on coniferous wood, providing theoretical foundation for rational utilization and commercial development.

Results

Optimal mycelial growth conditions were identified: dextrin (carbon), diammonium hydrogen phosphate (nitrogen), pH 7.0, and 25°C temperature. White light promoted fruiting body development. Larch substrate yielded superior results (190g yield, 38.0% biological efficiency) compared to oak and spruce. Transcriptome analysis revealed 1,746 differentially expressed genes, with significant enrichment in lignocellulose degradation, stress-resistant metabolism, and endocytosis pathways. P. abieticola fruiting bodies showed high protein (31.2%), dietary fiber, and trace element content with low fat.

Conclusion

This study successfully characterized P. abieticola as a commercially viable edible mushroom with significant potential for cultivation on coniferous substrates. The identification of key genes involved in endocytosis metabolism and CAZymes-mediated lignocellulose degradation elucidates the molecular mechanisms enabling conifer adaptation. These findings facilitate development of sustainable cultivation techniques leveraging abundant coniferous resources and support P. abieticola’s applications in food, medicine, and biotechnology sectors.

Published in:Frontiers in Molecular Bioscience,
Study Type:Experimental Research Study,
Source: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1352163, PMID: 38268723