This research provides the first detailed genetic blueprint of Tricholoma bakamatsutake, an economically important edible mushroom that grows in symbiosis with oak and related trees. The study reveals how this mushroom’s genetic makeup differs from its close relative, the prized matsutake mushroom, despite sharing similar basic chromosome structures. This understanding is crucial for conservation and potentially cultivation efforts. Impacts on everyday life: • Helps understand why certain mushrooms only grow with specific trees, which is important for forest management • Could lead to improved cultivation methods for valuable edible mushrooms • Contributes to conservation efforts of economically important wild mushrooms • May help develop better ways to identify different mushroom species in the wild