Next Article in Journal
Non-Target Effects of Trichoderma Spore Suspensions and Secondary Metabolites on Phytoseiid Predatory Mites
Previous Article in Journal
Fungal Communities Associated with Wooden Coffins in a Prehistoric Burial Cave
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
JoF
Volume 12
Issue 6
10.3390/jof12060381
jof-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Investigating the Genetic and Molecular Basis of Melanin and Edible Quality in Auricularia cornea

by
Yuling Cui
1,
Fangjie Yao
1,2,*,
Xiaoxu Ma
2,
Tingting Liu
3,
Xu Sun
1,
Ming Fang
2,
Lixin Lu
2,
Youmin Zhang
2,
Yinghao Li
2,
Xinming Chen
2 and
Xinyue Xu
2
1
Engineering Research Center of Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
2
Laboratory of the Genetic Breeding of Edible Mushroom, College of Horticulture, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
3
School of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Fungi 2026, 12(6), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12060381 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 14 April 2026 / Revised: 18 May 2026 / Accepted: 18 May 2026 / Published: 23 May 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Fungal Genomics, Genetics and Molecular Biology)
Versions Notes

Abstract

For the first time, a regulatory network linking melanin, genes, pathways, and edible quality was constructed for 138 Auricularia cornea strains sourced domestically and internationally. This marks the inaugural study of A. cornea spanning from cellular to physical-mechanical properties. Correlation analysis between melanin and edible quality traits (hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness, and resilience) revealed that hardness, cohesiveness, and gumminess increased with rising melanin content, while springiness correspondingly decreased. Genome-wide association analysis identified 15,597,589 SNP loci. A total of 39 genes related to food quality were annotated, including one melanin-related lacquer enzyme gene, ACW004924. Real-time quantitative PCR validation of key genes identified for melanin and edible quality traits revealed results consistent with those from correlation analysis. The lacquer enzyme genes ACW004736, ACW006232, which regulate melanin synthesis, and the tyrosinase genes ACW001451, ACW002443, and ACW001003 were also identified in edible quality traits. These genes perform similar functions in GO-enriched metabolic processes, catalytic activity, and cellular structural complexes, as well as in KEGG-enriched pathways such as carbon metabolism and polysaccharide synthesis. They catalyze melanin synthesis and promote interactions between melanin and cell wall polysaccharides, chitin, and structural proteins, thereby stabilizing the cellular scaffold structure, jointly mediating the effect of melanin on the edible quality of A. cornea. The results supplement the downstream regulatory chain of catalytic enzymes and edible quality in the γ-L-glutaminyl-3,4-dihydroxybenzene (GDHB) pigment synthesis pathway, and form an information network of melanin synthesis, cell wall structure optimization, and edible quality regulation.
Keywords: Auricularia cornea; melanin; edible quality; cell wall; genome-wide association study Auricularia cornea; melanin; edible quality; cell wall; genome-wide association study

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Cui, Y.; Yao, F.; Ma, X.; Liu, T.; Sun, X.; Fang, M.; Lu, L.; Zhang, Y.; Li, Y.; Chen, X.; et al. Investigating the Genetic and Molecular Basis of Melanin and Edible Quality in Auricularia cornea. J. Fungi 2026, 12, 381. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12060381

AMA Style

Cui Y, Yao F, Ma X, Liu T, Sun X, Fang M, Lu L, Zhang Y, Li Y, Chen X, et al. Investigating the Genetic and Molecular Basis of Melanin and Edible Quality in Auricularia cornea. Journal of Fungi. 2026; 12(6):381. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12060381

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cui, Yuling, Fangjie Yao, Xiaoxu Ma, Tingting Liu, Xu Sun, Ming Fang, Lixin Lu, Youmin Zhang, Yinghao Li, Xinming Chen, and et al. 2026. "Investigating the Genetic and Molecular Basis of Melanin and Edible Quality in Auricularia cornea" Journal of Fungi 12, no. 6: 381. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12060381

APA Style

Cui, Y., Yao, F., Ma, X., Liu, T., Sun, X., Fang, M., Lu, L., Zhang, Y., Li, Y., Chen, X., & Xu, X. (2026). Investigating the Genetic and Molecular Basis of Melanin and Edible Quality in Auricularia cornea. Journal of Fungi, 12(6), 381. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12060381

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop