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Volume 12
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10.3390/jof12050352
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of Morchella sextelata Reveals Its Early Divergence and Adaptive Evolution

by
Linhai Hong
1,2,
Qi Fan
2,
Nan Tao
2,
Peng Wang
1,
Ping Liu
2,
Jing Leng
2,
Chunxin Yao
2,* and
Qinghong Liu
1,*
1
Department of Vegetables, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
2
Biotechnology and Germplasm Resources Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650205, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Fungi 2026, 12(5), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12050352
Submission received: 3 April 2026 / Revised: 6 May 2026 / Accepted: 9 May 2026 / Published: 10 May 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Fungal Genomics, Genetics and Molecular Biology)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

This study presents a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of Morchella sextelata (54.64 Mb, 26 pseudochromosomes) and systematically characterizes its genomic and evolutionary features. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that M. sextelata diverged early within the Morchella genus (~14.2 million years ago) and underwent substantial genomic remodeling, with 1124 expanded and 1961 contracted gene families. Enrichment analysis of rapidly expanded gene families highlights two prominent functional themes: genes associated with small molecule/ion binding and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and genes linked to the Fanconi anemia pathway and DNA repair/recombination. Notably, 56.96% of the COG-annotated M. sextelata-specific genes encode retrotransposon-related proteins, and this enrichment coincides with the expansion of DNA repair systems—a pattern reminiscent of the “transposon domestication” model. Functional genomic analyses further reveal that the glycoside hydrolase system is dominated by GH5, GH43, and GH3 families, suggesting a predicted capacity for plant cell wall polysaccharide degradation, while 12 biosynthetic gene clusters indicate genetic potential for terpenoid and non-ribosomal peptide biosynthesis. These findings provide a valuable genomic resource for M. sextelata and offer new insights into the role of transposable element mediated remodeling in fungal genome evolution.
Keywords: Morchella sextelata; chromosome-level genome; assembly; adaptive evolution Morchella sextelata; chromosome-level genome; assembly; adaptive evolution

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Hong, L.; Fan, Q.; Tao, N.; Wang, P.; Liu, P.; Leng, J.; Yao, C.; Liu, Q. Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of Morchella sextelata Reveals Its Early Divergence and Adaptive Evolution. J. Fungi 2026, 12, 352. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12050352

AMA Style

Hong L, Fan Q, Tao N, Wang P, Liu P, Leng J, Yao C, Liu Q. Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of Morchella sextelata Reveals Its Early Divergence and Adaptive Evolution. Journal of Fungi. 2026; 12(5):352. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12050352

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hong, Linhai, Qi Fan, Nan Tao, Peng Wang, Ping Liu, Jing Leng, Chunxin Yao, and Qinghong Liu. 2026. "Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of Morchella sextelata Reveals Its Early Divergence and Adaptive Evolution" Journal of Fungi 12, no. 5: 352. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12050352

APA Style

Hong, L., Fan, Q., Tao, N., Wang, P., Liu, P., Leng, J., Yao, C., & Liu, Q. (2026). Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of Morchella sextelata Reveals Its Early Divergence and Adaptive Evolution. Journal of Fungi, 12(5), 352. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12050352

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