Integration of Metabolomes and Transcriptomes Provides Insights into Morphogenesis and Maturation in Morchella sextelata

Author: mycolabadmin
11/27/2023
View Source

Summary

Researchers studied how morel mushrooms develop from mycelium through fruiting body maturation by analyzing changes in their metabolites and genes across four growth stages. They found that the transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth involves dramatic changes in carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid metabolism, regulated by specific transcription factors. This understanding could help improve the cultivation of morels, which currently struggles with low fruiting rates despite their high value as food and medicine.

Background

Morchella sextelata is a highly valued edible and medicinal morel fungus with significant nutritional and economic importance. Despite advances in artificial cultivation reaching 16,466 hectares in China by 2021-2022, approximately half of morel cultivations experience low fruiting rates and unstable production. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying morphogenesis and maturation is crucial for improving cultivation stability.

Objective

This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the dynamics of metabolomes and transcriptomes during four developmental stages of Morchella sextelata (mycelium, primordium differentiation, young fruiting body, and mature fruiting body) to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of morphogenesis and maturation. The researchers sought to identify differentially expressed metabolites and genes that regulate the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth.

Results

A total of 748 differentially expressed metabolites and 5,342 differentially expressed genes were detected, with the mycelium-to-primordium transition representing the most drastic stage. Integration analysis revealed significant correlations between metabolites and genes, particularly in carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid metabolism pathways. Transcription factors including C2H2 and Zn-clus, along with carbohydrate-active enzymes, were identified as key regulators of development.

Conclusion

A conceptual model of transcriptional and metabolic regulation during morphogenesis and maturation in M. sextelata was proposed for the first time, showing that environmental factors activate transcription factors to regulate metabolic and transcriptional shifts from vegetative to reproductive growth. These findings provide valuable insights for improving morel breeding and sustainable artificial cultivation practices.

Published in:Journal of Fungi (Basel),
Study Type:Experimental Study,
Source: PMID: 38132744, DOI: 10.3390/jof9121143