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Organic Nitrogen Supplementation Increases Vegetative and Reproductive Biomass in a Versatile White Rot Fungus

Summary

Researchers studied how adding nitrogen from plant litter affects the growth and mushroom production of a wood-rotting fungus called Cyclocybe aegerita. They found that adding the organic compound adenosine—which naturally occurs in plant litter—significantly boosted both the fungus’s vegetative growth and the production of mushrooms. The results suggest that fungi living in wood benefit from being able to absorb nitrogen-rich compounds from nearby plant material, which improves their ability to grow and reproduce.

Background

Cyclocybe aegerita is a white-rot fungus that naturally fruits from woody substrates and is known for its substrate versatility. Wood is nitrogen-poor, yet wood decay fungi require sufficient nitrogen for enzyme production, cellular homeostasis, and reproduction. Previous studies have not comprehensively explored how accessory nitrogen is converted into vegetative and reproductive biomass in a uniform minimalistic setup.

Objective

To assess how organic nitrogen supplementation affects vegetative and reproductive biomass development in Cyclocybe aegerita using β-adenosine as an organic nitrogen source present in plant litter. The study aimed to measure mycelium growth, aerial mycelium biomass, primordia formation, and reproductive fruit body biomass.

Results

Elevated β-adenosine levels increased aerial mycelium weight by 30-55%, reproductive biomass by 75-100%, and primordia number by 127%. Intense adenosine supplementation accelerated primordium formation by 1.6 days. No significant differences in mycelial growth rate were detected between treatments, but adenosine-supplemented cultures showed significantly increased aerial mycelium dry weight and reproductive output.

Conclusion

Organic nitrogen supplementation enhances both vegetative and reproductive biomass in Cyclocybe aegerita, suggesting a fitness advantage for wood decay fungi that can mobilize accessory nitrogen resources. The ability to utilize nitrogen from nearby plant litter while colonizing nitrogen-poor wood may provide evolutionary benefits through increased sexual spore production and genetic diversity.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Experimental Laboratory Study,
  • Source: PMID: 36675828
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