Biological and inherited characteristics of a newly identified <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lentinula edodes</Emphasis> strain capable of forming a fruiting body without a shift to low temperature

A strain of the basidiomycete Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) was newly identified from the mushroom library of Mori Sangyo Co., Ltd., Japan. This strain, named MIL-LEW-M13-1, is capable of forming the fruiting body on sawdust-based medium without a reduction in temperature. Mating experiments with a monokaryotic mycelium of L. edodes strain that does require low temperature for fruiting–body formation suggest that the unique property of the MIL-LEW-M13-1 strain is a dominant trait that can be inherited by its progeny in a nucleus-dependent manner.     

Differential scanning calorimetric analysis of fruit-body and mycelium ofLentinula edodes

Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis was applied to the fruit-body (pileus and stipe) and mycelium, of shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes). Thermograms of each sample indicated distinctive patterns. However, chemical and infrared (IR) spectroscopic analyses showed that the compositions of pileus and stipe were similar to each other and different from that of mycelium. Because the DSC thermogram depends not only on chemical composition but also on physical properties such as density, the result of DSC analysis was assumed to indicate a difference in the state of cell wall between pileus and stipe.     

Influences of environmental factors on fruiting body induction,development and maturation in mushroom-forming fungi

Mushroom-forming fungi (restricted to basidiomycetous fungi in this review) differentiate by sensing several environmental factors for fruiting body formation. For fruiting body induction, nutrient, temperature and light conditions are critical environmental factors. Higher nitrogen and carbon sources in the media will suppress fruiting body induction in many mushroom-forming fungi, with induction being triggered by lower nitrogen and carbon concentrations. Low temperature or temperature downshift is another critical influencing factor for fruiting body induction in many cultivated mushrooms, such as Flammulina velutipes, Lentinula edodes, and Volvariella volvacea. Fungal response toward starvation and cold involves the production of sexual spores as the next generation. Species like F. velutipes and Coprinopsis cinerea can form fruiting bodies in the dark; however, light accelerates fruiting body induction in some mushroom-forming fungi. Remarkably, fruiting bodies formed in the dark have tiny or no pileus on heads (called dark stipe, pinhead fruiting body, or etiolated stipe). Light is essential for pileus differentiation in many, but not all mushroom species; one exception is Agaricus bisporus. Mushrooms have positive phototropism and negative gravitropism for effective dispersal of spores. Carbon dioxide concentrations also affect fruiting body development; pileus differentiation is suppressed at a high concentration of carbon dioxide. Thus, the pileus differentiation system of mushrooms may allow the most effective diffusion of spores. Full expansion of the pileus is followed by pileus autolysis or senescence. In C. cinerea, pileus autolysis occurs during spore diffusion. Fruiting body senescence, browning of gill, and softening occur after harvesting in several mushroom species. Fruiting body induction, development, and maturation in mushroom-forming fungi are discussed in this review.     

Protein expression during Flammulina velutipes fruiting body formation

Formation of the Flammulina velutipes fruiting body can be induced by lowering the ambient temperature (first treatment) in complete darkness. Fruiting bodies formed under these conditions elongate without pileus formation (pinhead fruiting body), suggesting that they cannot mature in complete darkness. However, after light treatment of the pinhead fruiting body (second treatment), a pileus develops immediately, and the stipe also thickens and becomes increasingly pigmented. The apical region swells as a result of cell division starting 2 days after light treatment, the pileus–stipe junction fracture and hymenium primordia form on day 4, and gills appear at day 6. Pf1 and Pf3 are specifically expressed after exposure to low temperature without light. The cell wall-associated protein [pileus-specific hydrophobin-like protein (PSH)] is specifically induced in the pileus, but not in the stipe, following the second light treatment to the pinhead fruiting body. These results suggest that Pf1 and Pf3 would be involved in fruiting body induction and that PSH would be involved in pileus formation. These phenomena will aid further histological and molecular biological investigations into the mechanisms behind fruiting body development in F. velutipes.     

橘黄裸伞子实体个体发育研究

采用石蜡切片法对不同发育时期橘黄裸伞的原基或幼子实体进行个体发育研究。结果表明:橘黄裸伞原基的第一个形态分化是下部边缘菌丝平行排列进行垂直生长,形成菌柄;然后边缘菌丝迅速向外生长,外菌幕形成,菌盖原基生长,在菌盖原基下部观察到菌褶腔,菌褶腔上部连续排列着栅栏细胞;在菌褶形成过程中,囊状体在尖端上聚集,说明菌褶的生长点在与菌盖组织相连的基部而不是尖端;内菌幕由内菌幕原基、菌盖边缘平行向下生长的菌丝和菌柄上部边缘平行向外生长的菌丝共同发育形成,由于内菌幕与菌柄组织的同源性,菌环不易脱落。橘黄裸伞属于半被果型中的双菌幕发育型,发育顺序表明其为菌柄发育型。     

Germination of Basidiospores of Agaricus bisporus

The type of dormancy and conditions necessary for germination of Agaricus bisporus basidiospores were studied. Basidiospores failed to germinate on starvation agar and required the presence of carbon and nitrogen sources (asparagine and/or glucose) in the medium. Upon 3-week storage, basidiospores germinated after 4–5 days. Heat shock (20 min at 45°C) and decreased temperature facilitated activation of germination. Heterocyclic compounds stimulating germination of endogenously dormant spores, such as furfural, failed to activate germination. The data obtained suggested an endogenous dormancy of A. bisporus basidiospores differing from zygospores of Mucorales. Basidiospores contained 17–19% lipids with a composition of fatty acids differing from those of the pileus and stipe of the fruiting body. The soluble carbohydrates of the cytosol amounted to 12% dry spore weight and consisted of mannitol (74%) and trehalose (26%). Unlike basidiospores stored at 2°C, basidiospores stored for 5 months at 20°C lost their ability to germinate, which correlated with a decrease in the content of trehalose.     

Distribution of free and esterified ergosterols in the medicinal fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ganoderma lucidum</Emphasis>

The fruiting bodies, spores, and lipid from the spores of Ganoderma lucidum have been widely used for medicinal purpose in China. Ergosterol content may be a suitable marker for evaluating the quality of ganoderma spore and ganoderma spore lipid (GSL) products. A gradient reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed for the simultaneous determination of free and esterified ergosterols in G. lucidum. The contents of free and esterified ergosterols in the different parts (the stipe, pileus, tubes, and spores) of G. lucidum and GSL were determined. The results showed that total ergosterol levels in the stipe, pileus, tubes, and spores of G. lucidum were between 0.8 and 1.6 mg/g. The relative abundances of free to esterified ergosterol were different in the different parts of G. lucidum. The spores and the tubes, the hymenophore tissue that contains the spore-producing cells, have a considerably higher percentage of ergosteryl esters (41.9 and 39.7% of total ergosterol) in comparison with the pileus and stipe tissues (3.6 and 6.2%).     

金针菇信息素信号通路基因在子实体发育过程中的差异表达

【背景】子实体是食用菌的主要商品部位,也是真菌生殖生长的重要结构,其发育受到多种信号途径的调控。【目的】以金针菇(Flammulina filiformis)为材料,对转录组和基因组数据的信息素信号通路基因进行分析获得差异表达的基因,并对其在菌丝生长和子实体发育过程中的表达情况进行分析,以期为研究食用菌子实体发育提供参考。【方法】基于已有的金针菇基因组数据,注释了金针菇信息素信号通路。进一步通过转录组测序鉴定了该通路中参与金针菇子实体发育的关键基因,并对关键基因进行荧光定量PCR验证。【结果】cdc24和ste12基因在子实体发育不同时期的5个样品(原基、伸长期菌柄、伸长期菌盖、成熟期菌柄和成熟期菌盖)中的表达具有显著差异,使用荧光定量PCR技术进行验证与上述结果一致。【结论】cdc24和ste12这2个关键基因可能参与了金针菇子实体发育过程中的组织分化调控机制。     

Fruiting body productivity of protoplast-derived clones inLentinula edodes

More than 100 dikaryotic clones (protoclones) derived from mycelial protoplasts of aLentinula edodes dikaryon were examined for their mycelial growth and fruiting body productivity. These protoclones exhibited a variety of vegetative mycelial growth rates, but no apparent difference in colonial morphology compared with the original (parental) dikaryon. Protoclones were cultivated on wood logs under natural conditions, and they exhibited a very wide range of fruiting body yields. Of the 134 protoclones, four were selected that produced a 30–40% increase in dry weight of fruiting body yield over that of the original dikaryon. This high productivity of fruiting bodies was maintained for at least several years. The present results suggest thatL. edodes protoclones can be practically used in strain improvement to increase the capability of fruiting body formation. Contribution No. 287 from the Tottori Mycological Institute.     

Gravitropism of the basidiomycete Flammulina velutipes: morphological and physiological aspects of the graviresponse

The fruiting body of the basidiomycete Flammulina velutipes shows a distinct negative gravitropic response. Maturing fruiting bodies in the rapid elongation phase become graviresponsive with basidiospore differentiation. Lateral gravistimulation by horizontal arrangement of the fruiting body results in unilateral growth regulation. Elongation in the upper Stipe side decreases to 40% during gravitropic reorientation of the fruiting body. Overshooting of the gravitropic response during reorientation is precisely regulated. The graviresponsiveness is concentrated to the apical area of the stipe, the transition zone between pileus and stipe, which features a prominent elongation capability. The small size and low vacuolization of the transition zone hyphae compared with differentiated basal stipe hyphae correspond with this physiological function on the light and electron microscopical levels. Curvature experiments using intact and explanted fruiting bodies demonstrated the graviperceptive role of the transition zone. The excision of various amounts of pilear tissue, even the disruption of the whole pileus, had no severe effect on gravitropic curvature, until the transition zone was damaged. Removal of the transition zone resulted in a dramatic loss of graviresponse, whereas the decrease of elongation was less drastic.     

Identification and expression analysis of a new glycoside hydrolase family 55 exo-β-1,3-glucanase-encoding gene in Volvariella volvacea suggests a role in fruiting body development

The edible straw mushroom Volvariella volvacea is an important crop in South East Asia and is predominantly harvested in the egg stage. Rapid stipe elongation and cap expansion result in a swift transition from the egg to elongation and maturation stage, which are subjected to fast senescence and deterioration. In other mushrooms, β-1,3-glucanases have been associated with degradation (softening) of the cell wall during stipe elongation and senescence. We present a new glycoside hydrolase family 55 (GH55) exo-β-1,3-glucanase gene, exg2, and highly conserved deduced EXG2 protein. The 3D model and presumed catalytic residues of V. volvacea EXG2 are identical to Lentinula edodes EXG2 and Phanerochaete chrysosporium Lam55A, supporting similar enzymatic functions. In addition to previous association to stipe elongation and senescence, our data clearly indicates a role for cap (pileus) expansion. Digital gene expression, quantitative PCR and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification analysis showed low exg2 and EXG2 levels in primordia, button, egg and elongation stages and significantly increased levels in the maturation stage. Subsequent relative quantitative PCR analysis designated expression of exg2 to the stipe in the elongation stage and to the pileus and stipe in the maturation stage. EXG2 cell wall softening activity, close correlation of exg2 expression with the principal expanding mushroom tissues and a strong conservation of expression patterns and protein sequences in other mushrooms, make V. volvacea exg2 an important candidate for future studies on mechanisms of fruiting body expansion and senescence causing commodity value loss.     

Chlorolepiota indica sp. nov.—A new species from India

A new species Chlorolepiota indica is reported from Patiala in Punjab, India. The fungus is characterized by convex brown pileus covered by concentrically arranged brown scales with yellow tinge around the umbo. The stipe of the fruiting body is cream to pale yellow, pinkish to reddish brown near the pileus, and yellowish to dark grey brown towards the base.     

Influence of light on the morphological changes that take place during the development of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flammulina velutipes</Emphasis> fruit body

We show that fruit bodies of Flammulina velutipes can be induced in complete darkness after a sharp temperature reduction (23° to 16°C). However, the fruit bodies that form in complete darkness have a long stipe with an undeveloped pileus on the top (pinhead fruit bodies) and are thinner and whiter than the normal fruit bodies which are formed in the light. This finding suggests that F. velutipes fruit bodies cannot mature in complete darkness. However, when we irradiated the fruit bodies that had formed in complete darkness, a pileus developed immediately, and 4 days later the separation between the stipe and the pileus could be observed. Immediately after light exposure, the stipe also thickened and became increasingly pigmented. The stipe elongation was inhibited until 8 days after light exposure, although stipe elongation progressed very quickly thereafter. Basidospores were also visible in the gills 8 days after light exposure. We consider that the basidiospore development is involved in this rapid stipe elongation, which aids the effective dispersal of basidiospores.     

Forest farming of shiitake mushrooms: Aspects of forced fruiting

Three outdoor shiitake (Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler) cultivation experiments were established during 2002–2004 at the University of Missouri Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center, in central Missouri. Over three complete years following a year of spawn run, we examined shiitake mushroom production in response to the temperature of forcing water, inoculum strain, substrate host species and physical orientation of the log during fruiting. Forcing compressed the period of most productive fruiting to the two years following spawn run. Further, chilled forcing water, 10–12 °C, significantly enhanced yield, particularly when ambient air temperatures were favorable for the selected mushroom strain. The temperature of water available for force-fruiting shiitake logs depends on geographic location (latitude) and source (i.e., farm pond vs. spring or well water). Prospective growers should be aware of this effect when designing their management and business plans.     

Comparative evaluation of three molecular typing methods in their applicability to differentiate Lactobacillus strains with human origin

We isolated a total of 49 strains of lactic acid bacteria from the faeces of healthy donors. The species in that group were determined as L. plantarum (11 strains), L. casei (11 strains), L. rhamnosus (seven strains), L. fermentum (seven strains), L. gasseri (six strains), L. delbrueckii ssp. lactis (four strains), L. salivarius (two strains), and L. acidophilus (one strain). Genotyping at strain level was performed using random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) with endonucleases ApaI and XhoI and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) with enzymes XhoI and TaqI. The main objective was the comparison of three molecular typing techniques: AFLP, PFGE and RAPD in their applicability to determine the genetic diversity among the isolates. RAPD was the easiest, comparatively rapid and fairly strain discriminative tool. PFGE was the most laborious method but producing the most stable profiles with satisfactory discriminatory power. AFLP proved to be the most discriminative approach for typing of the strains. AFLP could differentiate strains with the same PFGE profiles. Therefore, AFLP successfully could replace the labor consuming PFGE. The specially developed AFLP and PFGE proved very high potential to evaluate the strain diversity of Lactobacillus spp. with human origin.     

Developmental regulator Le.CDC5 of the mushroom Lentinula edodes: analyses of its amount in each of the stages of fruiting-body formation and its distribution in parts of the fruiting bodies

Immunoblot analysis of Le.CDC5 (842 amino acid residues), the expressed product of the cDNA of Le.cdc5 gene that has been previously reported to be most actively transcribed in primordia and small immature fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Lentinula edodes, showed that the primordia, immature fruiting bodies and mature fruiting bodies contain similar amounts of Le.CDC5 protein. This indicates that the Le.CDC5 protein molecules synthesized in the beginning and early stage of fruiting-body formation remains in mycelial tissues even after small immature fruiting bodies developed and matured. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that Le.CDC5 is present everywhere in the mycelial tissues of immature fruiting body, but prehymenophore, the border between pileus and stipe, and the bottom of stipe seem likely to contain larger amounts of Le.CDC5. Within the hymenophore of mature fruiting body, the hymenium (in/on which a large number of basidia and basidiospores are formed) contains the Le.CDC5 most exclusively.     

伞菌DNA简易序列分析引出的思考

目的:伞菌物种以子实体形态特征为分类依据,研究以菌丝体代替子实体进行种质资源鉴定的遗传证据。方法:以常见的食用伞菌香菇、平菇子实体的不同部位组织及其分离菌丝体为供试材料,制备了12个随机引物介导的RAPD-PCR指纹,把DNA指纹图谱转化为简易的序列数据,经生物信息处理软件比较分析。结果:香菇不同菌株子实体DNA相似性系数在0.886～0.986之间,平菇不同菌株子实体DNA相似系数在0.779～0.976之间。对于供试的单个子实体而言,香菇和平菇子实体的菌盖、菌褶、菌柄及其组织分离菌丝体,与以此为菌种栽培得到的子实体相比较,所获得的有限DNA指纹图谱全部相同。结论:揭示了香菇和平菇不同菌株的遗传多样性,初步反映了伞菌不同发育阶段在分子水平上的遗传变异和亲缘关系,争论了以菌丝体代替子实体使用RAPD手段进行种质资源鉴定与系统发育分析引出的真菌遗传问题。