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12 pages, 550 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Screening of Lentinula edodes Strains for High Polysaccharide Production and In Vitro Antioxidant Activities

by Jie Zhang, Kanwal Rida, Jiahao Wen, Xiumei Yu, Yunfu Gu, Maoqiang He, Qiang Chen and Quanju Xiang

J. Fungi 2025, 11(5), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11050347 - 30 Apr 2025

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Abstract

Lentinan is one of the main metabolites of Lentinula edodes and exhibits numerous biological properties, such as antitumor and antioxidant activity. Despite recent advancements, its commercialization remains constrained by a lengthy cultivation cycle, low yield, and high cost. Therefore, screening strains with high [...] Read more.

Lentinan is one of the main metabolites of Lentinula edodes and exhibits numerous biological properties, such as antitumor and antioxidant activity. Despite recent advancements, its commercialization remains constrained by a lengthy cultivation cycle, low yield, and high cost. Therefore, screening strains with high polysaccharide production or enhanced bioactivity at the mycelial fermentation stage is of significant importance. In this study, the mycelial polysaccharide content and in vitro antioxidant activity of 18 L. edodes strains were evaluated under shaking and static culture conditions. The total polysaccharide content and IC₅₀ values under both culture conditions served as indicators for screening high-yielding and high in vitro antioxidant activity strains. Strain XG21 demonstrated superior polysaccharide production, with a total polysaccharide content of 78.80 mg in 50 mL of culture medium, which was 1.82 times higher than that of the main cultivated strain Xin808 (43.30 mg). Additionally, strain XG19 was identified for its high in vitro antioxidant activity, with total IC₅₀ values of 3.11 and 3.38 mg mL⁻¹ under shaking and static culture conditions, respectively. Further analyses on polysaccharide components, molecular weight, and enzyme activities were conducted on strains XG19, XG21, and Xin808. The results reveal that the polysaccharide from strain XG19 exhibited high uronic acid content and a significant weight-average molecular weight. Specifically, the intracellular polysaccharide uronic acid content (2.96%) was 2.22 and 1.14 times higher than that of Xin808 and XG21, respectively, while its weight-average molecular weight (Mw, 702.924 kDa) was 2.60 and 1.28 times greater than that of Xin808 and XG21. While the uronic acid content in its extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs) (8.26%) was similar to Xin808 and XG21, the Mw (83.894 kDa) was 1.56 times greater than that of XG21. Correlation analysis revealed that the content of extracellular polysaccharides and total polysaccharides was positively correlated with phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) activity but negatively correlated with phosphoglucomutase (PGM) activity. These findings provide valuable strain information for the screening of mycelial polysaccharides with high yields and bioactivities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding and Metabolism of Edible Fungi)

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17 pages, 4039 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Preliminary Exploration of Transcriptome and Proteomic Changes During the Young and Harvest Periods in Morchella sextelata

by Weilin Feng, Zier Guo, Qunli Jin, Fei Xu, Yingyue Shen, Tingting Song, Mei Wang, Jun Zhang, Lijun Fan, Xianbin Huang and Weiming Cai

J. Fungi 2025, 11(3), 192; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11030192 - 2 Mar 2025

Viewed by 694

Abstract

Based on transcriptome and proteome sequencing technologies, this study aims to preliminarily reveal the molecular mechanisms of growth and development and related metabolic regulation in Morchella sextelat. A total of 42.31 GB of Clean Data was acquired from the transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) [...] Read more.

Based on transcriptome and proteome sequencing technologies, this study aims to preliminarily reveal the molecular mechanisms of growth and development and related metabolic regulation in Morchella sextelat. A total of 42.31 GB of Clean Data was acquired from the transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) of six samples in two development phases (n = 3) of M. sextelata. In the young phase (YP) and harvest phase (HP), there were 2887 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 1910 up-regulated genes and 977 down-regulated genes. In YP and HP, there were 987 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), including 417 up-regulated ones and 570 down-regulated ones. Based on GO and KEGG analysis, significant differences in the transcriptomes and proteins in metabolic pathways are disclosed. Glycometabolism, especially starch, saccharose, and polysaccharide metabolism, plays a crucial role in the growth of M. sextelata. In addition, expression changes in the genes related to selenium metabolism are here recognized. These research results not only offer strong support for further exploration of the biological significance and functional differences of M. sextelata, but are also conducive to discovering key genes and understanding their regulation network during growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding and Metabolism of Edible Fungi)

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18 pages, 5019 KiB

Open AccessArticle

First Report on the Artificial Cultivation Techniques of Buchwaldoboletus xylophilus (Boletales, Boletaceae, Buchwaldoboletus) in Southwest China

by Tianwei Yang, Hongjun Mu, Liming Dai, Jing Liu, Xinjing Xu, Feng Gao, Yiwei Fang, Sipeng Jian, Mingxia He and Chunxia Zhang

J. Fungi 2025, 11(3), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11030172 - 21 Feb 2025

Viewed by 677

Abstract

Buchwaldoboletus xylophilus is an edible bolete species belonging to the family Boletaceae and the genus Buchwaldoboletus. It is found in tropical and subtropical regions, which are known for their rare wild resources. In this study, wild B. xylophilus was isolated and cultured, [...] Read more.

Buchwaldoboletus xylophilus is an edible bolete species belonging to the family Boletaceae and the genus Buchwaldoboletus. It is found in tropical and subtropical regions, which are known for their rare wild resources. In this study, wild B. xylophilus was isolated and cultured, and its biological characteristics and artificial cultivation techniques were studied. The results show that the optimal carbon source, nitrogen source, and inorganic salt for the mycelium growth of B. xylophilus were maltose, ammonium tartrate, and magnesium sulfate, respectively. The most appropriate temperature was 28 °C, and the pH value was between 5 and 6. The most effective combination was determined via orthogonal experimentation, as follows: dextrose, ammonium nitrate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and 28 °C. The results of artificial cultivation in mushroom houses show that the mycelium of B. xylophilus was strong and grew well on the culture medium. The mycelial growth rate was 4.54 mm/d, and the fungus bags were filled about 50 days after inoculation. The primordia formed 9 to 14 days after covering with soil and the fruiting body matured in 6~8 days. The average yield of fresh mushrooms reached 131.07 ± 29.38 g/bag, and the average biological efficiency reached 28.48 ± 6.39%. In this study, artificial cultivation technology in respect of B. xylophilus in mushroom houses is reported for the first time. The fruiting bodies obtained through cultivation were identified using morphological and molecular biological methods. This technology offers benefits such as affordability, a brief cultivation cycle, substantial yields, and superior quality, making it ideal for industrial-scale and extensive cultivation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding and Metabolism of Edible Fungi)

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20 pages, 7935 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inhibitory Effect and Mechanism of Hexanal on the Maturation of Peach-Shaped Phallus impudicus

by Hong He, Shuya Fan, Gan Hu, Beibei Wang, Dayu Liu, Xinhui Wang, Jinqiu Wang and Fang Geng

J. Fungi 2025, 11(2), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11020127 - 8 Feb 2025

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Abstract

Phallus impudicus is a fungus used as a medicine and nutrient-rich food. However, the shelf life of mature Phallus impudicus is only a few hours. Therefore, research on its preservation technology is essential for improving its economic value. This study investigated the effects [...] Read more.

Phallus impudicus is a fungus used as a medicine and nutrient-rich food. However, the shelf life of mature Phallus impudicus is only a few hours. Therefore, research on its preservation technology is essential for improving its economic value. This study investigated the effects of hexanal concentrations (25–100 μL/L) and treatment time (4–8 h) on the inhibition of peach-shaped Phallus impudicus (CK) maturation and found that the maturation rate was 25% under optimal conditions of 25 μL/L hexanal treatment for 6 h. Quantitative transcriptomic and lipidomic analyses were conducted among CK, mature Phallus impudicus (M-P), and hexanal-treated peach-shaped Phallus impudicus (H-P-P). In total, 2933 and 2746 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 156 and 111 differentially abundant lipids (DALs) were identified in CK vs. H-P-P and M-P vs. H-P-P, respectively. Functional analysis demonstrated that hexanal treatment inhibited phospholipase D gene expression and reduced phosphatidic acid abundance, thereby inhibiting the activation of the phosphatidylinositol signaling system and the signal amplification of the cell wall integrity mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. These blocked signal transductions inhibited the gene expression of most β-glucanases, chitinases and chitin synthases, further affecting cell wall reconstruction. Moreover, hexanal treatment enhanced membrane stability by reducing the monogalactosyl diglyceride/digalactosyl diacylglycerol ratio and increasing the phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine ratio. This study contributed to the development of hexanal treatment as a postharvest preservation technology for Phallus impudicus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding and Metabolism of Edible Fungi)

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21 pages, 4753 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly and Annotation of the Highly Heterozygous Phallus echinovolvatus Provide New Insights into Its Genetics

by Mengya An, Ruoxi Liang, Yanliu Chen, Jinhua Zhang, Xiuqing Wang, Xing Li, Guohua Qu and Junfeng Liang

J. Fungi 2025, 11(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11010062 - 15 Jan 2025

Viewed by 1008

Abstract

Phallus echinovolvatus is a well-known edible and medicinal fungus with significant economic value. However, the available whole-genome information is lacking for this species. The chromosome-scale reference genome (Monop) and two haploid genomes (Hap1 and Hap2) of P. echinovolvatus, each assembled into 11 [...] Read more.

Phallus echinovolvatus is a well-known edible and medicinal fungus with significant economic value. However, the available whole-genome information is lacking for this species. The chromosome-scale reference genome (Monop) and two haploid genomes (Hap1 and Hap2) of P. echinovolvatus, each assembled into 11 pseudochromosomes, were constructed using Illumina, PacBio-HiFi long-read sequencing, and Hi-C technology. The Monop had a size of 36.54 Mb, with 10,251 predicted protein-coding genes and including 433 carbohydrate-active enzyme genes, 385 cytochrome P450 enzyme genes, and 42 gene clusters related to secondary metabolite synthesis. Phylogenetic and collinearity analysis revealed a close evolutionary relationship between P. echinovolvatus and Clathrus columnatus in the core Phallales clade. Hap1 and Hap2 had sizes of 35.46 Mb and 36.11 Mb, respectively. Collinear relationships were not observed for 15.38% of the genes in the two haplotypes. Hap1 had 256 unique genes, and Hap2 had 370 unique genes. Our analysis of the P. echinovolvatus genome provides insights into the genetic basis of the mechanisms underlying the metabolic effects of bioactive substances and will aid ongoing breeding efforts and studies of genetic mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding and Metabolism of Edible Fungi)

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18 pages, 2294 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Transcriptomic and Targeted Metabolomic Analysis Reveals the Key Genes Involved in Triterpenoid Biosynthesis of Ganoderma lucidum

by Xiaolan Xu, Chunxia Li, Fangjing Wu, Shuangshuang Zhao, Tiqiang Chen, Haihong You, Yijie Lin and Xiaoxing Zou

J. Fungi 2025, 11(1), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11010057 - 13 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1172

Abstract

Ganoderma lucidum is a traditional Chinese medicinal fungus, and ganoderma triterpenoids (GTs) are one of the main bioactive compounds. These compounds have various pharmacological functions, including anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, liver-protective, and immune-regulating effects. However, the manner in which they accumulate, and their biosynthesis [...] Read more.

Ganoderma lucidum is a traditional Chinese medicinal fungus, and ganoderma triterpenoids (GTs) are one of the main bioactive compounds. These compounds have various pharmacological functions, including anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, liver-protective, and immune-regulating effects. However, the manner in which they accumulate, and their biosynthesis mechanisms remain unclear. To screen for the genes that are involved in the biosynthetic pathway of GTs, this study analyzed the differential metabolites and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among different growth stages of G. lucidum, including the primordia (P), the matured fruiting body (FM), and the post-spore fruiting bodies (FP) using targeted metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis, respectively. The results showed that a total of 699 components were detected, including lignans, terpenoids, amino acids and derivatives, and phenolic acids, among others. Among them, a total of 112 types of triterpenes were detected. Compared with the primordia, there were eight differential metabolites of triterpenoids, with three decreasing and five increasing in the FM stage. A comparison between the FM stage and the FP stage revealed that there were 13 differential metabolites of triterpenoids. A transcriptomics analysis showed that there were 371 DEGs in the P_vs_FM group, including 171 down-regulated genes and 200 up-regulated genes. In the FM_vs_FP group, 2567 DEGs were identified, with 1278 down-regulated genes and 1289 up-regulated genes. Through targeted metabolomics and transcriptome correlation analysis, six TFs and two CYP450s were significantly associated with four triterpenoid components. The results showed that these TFs and CYP450s were positively or negatively correlated with the four triterpenoid components. In addition, interestingly, some flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which have been reported in plants, were also detected in G. lucidum, indicating that it has the potential to be engineered into a strain capable of synthesizing flavonoid compounds. This study provides useful information about key genes involved in GT biosynthesis, but further exploration and in-depth research are needed to better understand the functions of these genes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding and Metabolism of Edible Fungi)

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19 pages, 7857 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exogenous MnSO₄ Improves Productivity of Degenerated Volvariella volvacea by Regulating Antioxidant Activity

by Qiaoli Wang, Wenpei Wang, Yonghui Wang, Jinmin Yun, Yubin Zhang and Fengyun Zhao

J. Fungi 2024, 10(12), 825; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10120825 - 27 Nov 2024

Viewed by 882

Abstract

Manganese is one of the trace elements necessary for organisms to maintain normal biological activities and is also a cofactor for manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) and manganese peroxidase (MnP). In order to find a simple and effective method to rejuvenate the degenerated V. volvacea [...] Read more.

Manganese is one of the trace elements necessary for organisms to maintain normal biological activities and is also a cofactor for manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) and manganese peroxidase (MnP). In order to find a simple and effective method to rejuvenate the degenerated V. volvacea strains, we explored the effect of the exogenous addition of MnSO₄ on the antioxidant vigour and productivity of degenerated strains of V. volvacea. The results showed that the exogenous MnSO₄ had no significant effect on the non-degenerated strain T0, but it could effectively increase the mycelial growth rate, mycelial biomass, and LBL decolouring ability of the degenerated strains T10 and T19, and reduce the production cycle and increased the biological efficiency of T10; it helped the severely degenerated T19 to regrow its fruiting body; and it also significantly increased the viability of the matrix-degrading enzymes such as EG, Lac, Xyl, etc. of T10 and T19. Meanwhile, exogenous MnSO₄ significantly increased the activity of GPX, GR, CAT, SOD, and the content of GSH, polyphenols, minerals, and polysaccharides in T10 and T19 strains, which resulted in a significant decrease in the accumulation of ROS, such as O₂⁻ and H₂O₂ in T10 and T19. The correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between antioxidant activity and the production ability of V. volvacea. This study can provide theoretical reference and technical support for the rejuvenation research of degenerated strains of V. volvacea and other edible fungi. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding and Metabolism of Edible Fungi)

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14 pages, 8055 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptome Analysis of the Growth-Promoting Effect of Large Macrofungal Sclerotium Powder on Lentinula edodes and Pleurotus eryngii Strains

by Zhanghu Chen, Ruiheng Yang, Yan Li, Lihua Tang, Huiyang Xiong, Dapeng Bao and Ting Guo

J. Fungi 2024, 10(12), 808; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10120808 - 21 Nov 2024

Viewed by 1081

Abstract

In the industrial production of Lentinula edodes and Pleurotus eryngii, slow growth of the mother seed and insufficient hyphal vitality can significantly affect the cultivation process. To shorten the growth period on traditional PDA medium, two strains of L. edodes and P. [...] Read more.

In the industrial production of Lentinula edodes and Pleurotus eryngii, slow growth of the mother seed and insufficient hyphal vitality can significantly affect the cultivation process. To shorten the growth period on traditional PDA medium, two strains of L. edodes and P. eryngii were cultured with different proportions of P. tuber-regium and Wolfiporia hoelen sclerotium powders added into the medium to investigate the effect on the mycelial growth. Compared to the PDA, the addition of sclerotia powder significantly enhanced the growth of mycelia, with an optimal addition ratio of 2%. Transcriptome sequencing was performed after culturing L. edodes and P. eryngii on PDA, PDA with 2% P. tuber-regium sclerotium powder, and PDA with 2% W. hoelen sclerotium powder. GO enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of L. edodes and P. eryngii strains cultured in the sclerotia powder media showed significant changes in oxidoreductase and glucosidase activities. Changes were observed in KEGG annotation for carbohydrate metabolism, glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, and other energy metabolic pathways. Moreover, carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) family genes were predominantly upregulated. The increase in the activity of CAZyme and oxidoreductases promotes the degradation of nutrients in the sclerotia into small-molecule substances, which explains why the sclerotia powder culture medium promotes mycelial growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding and Metabolism of Edible Fungi)

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24 pages, 15798 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Mitogenomics Provides Valuable Insights for the Phylogeny and New DNA Barcodes of Ganoderma

by Ti-Qiang Chen, Chi Yang, Xiao-Lan Xu, Lin Yang, Huan-Qing He, Meng-Ting Weng, Zheng-He Ying, Xiao-Kun Shi and Meng-Guang Ding

J. Fungi 2024, 10(11), 769; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10110769 - 5 Nov 2024

Viewed by 1566

Abstract

Ganoderma is the most important genus in the family Ganodermataceae; many species have attracted much attention and widely cultivated because of their medicinal values, but so far, not a sequenced mitogenome derived from dikaryon strains has been explicitly recorded. Herein, four novel mitogenomes [...] Read more.

Ganoderma is the most important genus in the family Ganodermataceae; many species have attracted much attention and widely cultivated because of their medicinal values, but so far, not a sequenced mitogenome derived from dikaryon strains has been explicitly recorded. Herein, four novel mitogenomes of commonly cultivated Ganoderma (G. leucocontextum H4, G. lucidum G6, G. sinense MZ96 and G. tsugae SS) were de novo assembled and given detail functional annotations. Collinearity analysis revealed that the four mitogenomes shared 82.93–92.02% similarity with their corresponding reference mitogenomes at the nucleotide level. A total of 15 core protein-coding genes (PCGs), along with rrnL and rrnS (mtLSU and mtSSU) were chosen as potential candidates for constructing their individual phylogenetic trees. These trees were compared with those derived from the concatenated sequences of 15 core PCGs. And finally, we found that the atp9 and nad4L were the most reliable markers for the phylogenetic analysis of Ganoderma and chosen as standard sequences to generate new DNA barcodes. This finding was further verified by comparing it against almost all available Ganoderma mitogenomes in the NCBI, with Trametes versicolor (Polyporaceae) and Rigidoporus microporus (Meripilaceae) as two outgroups. A total of 52 mitogenomes from three families were highly conserved, with identical gene lengths for atp9 (222 bp) and nad4L (267 bp). These genes were capable of distinguish distinctly different various species, which are grouped into separate clades within the phylogenetic trees. The closest related clades (I and II), including at least 30 samples of the three classical taxonomic species (G. lingzhi, G. sichuanense and G. lucidum), differed in only one SNP. The single base mutation rate increased with the evolutionary divergence of the phylogenetic clades, from two to three SNPs in earlier clades (e.g., clade IV containing G. leucocontextum) to five to six SNPs in later clades (e.g., clade X containing G. sinense). Despite these variations between species, the atp9 and nad4L genes of Ganoderma mitogenomes consistently encoded the same ATP synthase F0 subunit c (73 aa) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4L (88 aa). These two genes have been identified as reliable markers of new DNA barcodes, offering valuable insights and contributing significantly to understanding the evolutionary relationships and phylogeny of the Ganoderma genus and even the Ganodermataceae family. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding and Metabolism of Edible Fungi)

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15 pages, 6813 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the Cys2His2 Zinc Finger Protein Gene Family in Flammulina filiformis

by Zongjun Tong, Xing Han, Xinlian Duan, Junbin Lin, Jie Chen, Jihong Xiao, Ying Gan, Bingcheng Gan and Junjie Yan

J. Fungi 2024, 10(9), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10090644 - 11 Sep 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1646

Abstract

Zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) are essential transcription factors in eukaryotes, particularly the extensively studied C2H2 family, which is known for its involvement in various biological processes. This research provides a thorough examination and analysis of the C2H2-ZFP gene family in Flammulina filiformis. [...] Read more.

Zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) are essential transcription factors in eukaryotes, particularly the extensively studied C2H2 family, which is known for its involvement in various biological processes. This research provides a thorough examination and analysis of the C2H2-ZFP gene family in Flammulina filiformis. Using bioinformatics tools, 58 FfC2H2-ZFP genes spread across 11 chromosomes were identified and scrutinized in detail for their gene structures, protein characteristics, and phylogenetic relationships. The study of phylogenetics and synteny sheds light on the evolutionary relationships among C2H2-ZFPs in F. filiformis and other fungi, revealing a complex evolutionary past. The identification of conserved cis-regulatory elements in the gene promoter regions suggests intricate functionalities, particularly in the developmental and stress response pathways. By utilizing RNA-seq and qRT-PCR techniques, the expression patterns of these genes were explored across different developmental stages and tissues of F. filiformis, unveiling distinct expression profiles. Notably, significant expression variations were observed in the stipe elongation region and pilei of various sizes, indicating potential roles in fruiting body morphogenesis. This study enhances our knowledge of the C2H2-ZFP gene family in F. filiformis and lays the groundwork for future investigations into their regulatory mechanisms and applications in fungal biology and biotechnology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding and Metabolism of Edible Fungi)

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22 pages, 3804 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differential Strategies of Ectomycorrhizal Development between Suillus luteus and Pinus massoniana in Response to Nutrient Changes

by Xueyu Pan, Junfeng Liang, Jinhua Zhang, Yan Zhao and Mingjie Chen

J. Fungi 2024, 10(8), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10080587 - 19 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1430

Abstract

Ectomycorrhizal fungi employ different strategies for mycelial growth and host colonization under varying nutrient conditions. However, key genes associated with mycorrhizal interaction should be influenced solely by the inoculation treatment and not by nutrient variations. To utilize subtle nutrient differences and rapidly screen [...] Read more.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi employ different strategies for mycelial growth and host colonization under varying nutrient conditions. However, key genes associated with mycorrhizal interaction should be influenced solely by the inoculation treatment and not by nutrient variations. To utilize subtle nutrient differences and rapidly screen for key genes related to the interaction between Suillus luteus and Pinus massoniana, we performed an inoculation experiment using culture bottles containing high- and low-nutrient media. Interestingly, S. luteus LS88 promoted the growth of P. massoniana seedlings without mature ectomycorrhiza, and the impact of LS88 inoculation on P. massoniana roots was greater than that of nutrient changes. In this study, the resequenced genome of the LS88 strain was utilized for transcriptome analysis of the strain. The analysis indicated that a unique gene encoding glutathione S-transferase (GST) in LS88 is likely involved in colonizing P. massoniana roots. In this study, the GST gene expression was independent of nutrient levels. It was probably induced by P. massoniana and could be used as a marker for S. luteus colonization degree. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding and Metabolism of Edible Fungi)

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18 pages, 9493 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Serine Rejuvenated Degenerated Volvariella volvacea by Enhancing ROS Scavenging Ability and Mitochondrial Function

by Qiaoli Wang, Jianing Zhu, Yonghui Wang, Jianmin Yun, Yubin Zhang and Fengyun Zhao

J. Fungi 2024, 10(8), 540; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10080540 - 1 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1633

Abstract

Serine is a functional amino acid that effectively regulates the physiological functions of an organism. This study investigates the effects of adding exogenous serine to a culture medium to explore a feasible method for the rejuvenation of V. volvacea degenerated strains. The tissue [...] Read more.

Serine is a functional amino acid that effectively regulates the physiological functions of an organism. This study investigates the effects of adding exogenous serine to a culture medium to explore a feasible method for the rejuvenation of V. volvacea degenerated strains. The tissue isolation subcultured strains T6, T12, and T19 of V. volvacea were used as test strains, and the commercially cultivated strain V844 (T0) was used as a control. The results revealed that the addition of serine had no significant effect on non-degenerated strains T0 and T6, but could effectively restore the production characteristics of degenerated strains T12 and T19. Serine increased the biological efficiency of T12 and even helped the severely degenerated T19 to regrow its fruiting body. Moreover, exogenous serine up-regulated the expression of some antioxidant enzyme genes, improved antioxidase activity, reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lowered malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and restored mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and mitochondrial morphology. Meanwhile, serine treatment increased lignocellulase and mycelial energy levels. These findings form a theoretical basis and technical support for the rejuvenation of V. volvacea degenerated strains and other edible fungi. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding and Metabolism of Edible Fungi)

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13 pages, 2821 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of PEBP-like Genes and Function of Capebp1 and Capebp5 in Fruiting Body Regeneration in Cyclocybe aegerita

by Nan Tao, Bopu Cheng, Yuanhao Ma, Ping Liu, Hongmei Chai, Yongchang Zhao and Weimin Chen

J. Fungi 2024, 10(8), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10080537 - 31 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1192

Abstract

Phosphatidylethanolamine-binding proteins (PEBPs) play a crucial role in the growth and development of various organisms. Due to the low sequence similarity compared to plants, humans, and animals, the study of pebp genes in fungi has not received significant attention. The redifferentiation of fruiting [...] Read more.

Phosphatidylethanolamine-binding proteins (PEBPs) play a crucial role in the growth and development of various organisms. Due to the low sequence similarity compared to plants, humans, and animals, the study of pebp genes in fungi has not received significant attention. The redifferentiation of fruiting bodies is exceedingly rare in fungal development. Hitherto, only a few studies have identified the Capebp2 gene as being associated with this phenomenon in Cyclocybe aegerita. Thus, exploring the role of pebp genes in fruiting body development is imperative. In the present study, four Capebp genes (Capebp1, Capebp3, Capebp4, and Capebp5) were cloned from the AC0007 strain of C. aegerita based on genome sequencing and gene prediction. The findings indicate that the pebp family, in C. aegerita, comprises a total of five genes. Moreover, the sequence similarity was low across the five CAPEBP protein sequences in C. aegerita, and only a few conserved sequences, such as HRY and RHF, were identical. Expression analyses revealed that, similarly to Capebp2, the four Capebp genes exhibit significantly higher expression levels in the fruiting bodies than in the mycelium. Furthermore, overexpressed and RNA interference Capebp1 or Capebp5 transformants were analyzed. The results demonstrate that overexpression of Capebp1 or Capebp5 could induce the regeneration of the lamella or fruiting body, whereas the knockdown of Capebp1 or Capebp5 could lead to the accelerated aging of fruiting bodies. These findings highlight a significant role of Capebp genes in the generation of C. aegerita fruiting bodies and provide a foundation for further exploration into their involvement in basidiomycete growth and development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding and Metabolism of Edible Fungi)

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20 pages, 15084 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrative Analysis of Transcriptome and Metabolome Sheds Light on Flavonoid Biosynthesis in the Fruiting Body of Stropharia rugosoannulata

by Xian Wu, Zhihui Du, Lian Liu, Zhilin Chen, Yurong Li and Shaobin Fu

J. Fungi 2024, 10(4), 254; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10040254 - 27 Mar 2024

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1900

Abstract

Flavonoids are a diverse family of natural compounds that are widely distributed in plants and play a critical role in plant growth, development, and stress adaptation. In recent years, the biosynthesis of flavonoids in plants has been well-researched, with the successive discovery of [...] Read more.

Flavonoids are a diverse family of natural compounds that are widely distributed in plants and play a critical role in plant growth, development, and stress adaptation. In recent years, the biosynthesis of flavonoids in plants has been well-researched, with the successive discovery of key genes driving this process. However, the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis in fungi remains unclear. Stropharia rugosoannulata is an edible mushroom known for its high nutritional and pharmacological value, with flavonoids being one of its main active components. To investigate the flavonoid content of S. rugosoannulata, a study was conducted to extract and determine the total flavonoids at four stages: young mushroom (Ym), gill (Gi), maturation (Ma), and parachute-opening (Po). The findings revealed a gradual increase in total flavonoid concentration as the fruiting body developed, with significant variations observed between the Ym, Gi, and Ma stages. Subsequently, we used UPLC-MS/MS and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to quantify the flavonoids and identify regulatory genes of Ym, Gi, and Ma. In total, 53 flavonoid-related metabolites and 6726 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Through KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, we identified 59 structural genes encoding flavonoid biosynthesis-related enzymes, most of which were up-regulated during the development of the fruiting body, consistent with the accumulation of flavonoids. This research led to the establishment of a comprehensive transcriptional metabolic regulatory network encompassing flavonoids, flavonoid synthases, and transcription factors (TFs). This represents the first systematic exploration of the molecular mechanism of flavonoids in the fruiting of fungi, offering a foundation for further research on flavonoid mechanisms and the breeding of high-quality S. rugosoannulata. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding and Metabolism of Edible Fungi)

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