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Genomic Analyses of Two Italian Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius Strains

Summary

Researchers sequenced and analyzed the genomes of two strains of the oyster mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius, an important edible and medicinal mushroom. This study revealed how different strains of the same mushroom species can have varying abilities to grow and trap nematodes (tiny worms). Impact on everyday life: – Improved understanding of mushroom cultivation could lead to better farming methods – Better knowledge of mushroom genetics may enhance their use in medicine and nutrition – Understanding how mushrooms naturally control nematodes could lead to better organic pest control methods – Could help develop more effective natural bioremediation solutions for environmental pollutants – May lead to new applications in biotechnology and sustainable food production

Background

Pleurotus mushrooms are among the most cultivated fungi globally, valued for food, medicine, and biotechnology. They are carnivorous fungi capable of paralyzing and killing nematodes when nutrient-deprived. While their predator-prey interactions with nematodes remain largely unexplored, the molecular mechanisms and genes involved in their carnivorous behavior are still unknown.

Objective

To understand the interactions between Pleurotus mushrooms and their nematode prey through genetic and genomic analyses by studying two single spores (ss2 and ss5) isolated from a P. pulmonarius fruiting body that showed significant differences in growth and toxicity against nematodes.

Results

The researchers assembled and annotated two high-quality genomes containing 23 scaffolds each, including 6 (ss2) and 8 (ss5) telomere-to-telomere scaffolds. These are among the most complete assembled genomes of Pleurotus species. The genome size was ~39.2 Mb for ss2 and ~39.9 Mb for ss5. Strain ss5 showed faster growth and higher toxicity against nematodes compared to ss2. Comparative analyses identified significant genomic differences between the two strains.

Conclusion

This work provides valuable genomic resources for better understanding the Italian oyster mushroom P. pulmonarius. The high-quality genome assemblies will enable future comparative genomic analyses of Pleurotus mushrooms and help understand their biological characteristics, including their carnivorous behavior.
  • Published in:G3: Genes | Genomes | Genetics,
  • Study Type:Genomic Analysis,
  • Source: 10.1093/g3journal/jkaa007
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