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Sexual Selection in Mushroom-Forming Basidiomycetes

Summary

This research reveals that mushroom-forming fungi exhibit sexual selection – a process previously only well-known in animals and plants. Even though fungi don’t have separate sexes, they show preferences during mating where certain genetic material is favored over others. This discovery has important implications for understanding fungal evolution and reproduction. Impacts on everyday life: • Helps explain how mushroom species evolve and maintain genetic diversity • Provides insights for mushroom breeding and cultivation • Advances our understanding of basic biological processes across all forms of life • Could lead to improved methods for controlling fungal growth in agricultural settings • May help develop better strategies for conserving wild mushroom species

Background

Sexual selection is defined as the component of natural selection associated with variation in reproductive success caused by competition for access to gametes of the opposite sex. While well documented in animals and plants, sexual selection has not been widely recognized in fungi. Basidiomycete fungi have distinct male and female roles during mating, despite not having separate sexes – the acceptance of a nucleus by a large mycelium represents a female-like function, while donation of a nucleus represents a male-like function.

Objective

To test for the occurrence of sexual selection in the model mushroom species Schizophyllum commune by examining whether there is consistent bias in nuclear selection during dikaryon-monokaryon matings, and to determine if any bias is due to female choice or male-male competition between nuclei.

Results

In 46 out of 58 dikaryon-monokaryon matings, there was a significant bias for one of the two nuclei, with the winning nucleus successful in 85% of cases on average. For six of 15 tested dikaryotic strains, the successful nucleus depended on the receiving monokaryon, indicating female choice. In nine dikaryons, the same nucleus always won regardless of the receiving monokaryon. Half of the receiving monokaryons showed clear hierarchical preferences for certain nuclei.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that sexual selection occurs in mushroom-forming fungi through highly reproducible biases in nuclear selection during mating. The bias appears to operate through both female choice (receiving mycelium preference) and possibly male-male competition between nuclei. This finding expands the known scope of sexual selection to fungi and suggests it may be an important evolutionary force in these organisms.
  • Published in:Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.1098/rspb.2010.1110
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