Abstract
The evolution of agaric (mushroom-forming) fungi into sequestrate (enclosed) fungi is a field of ongoing interest. Understanding the genes involved in this process will further both developmental and morphological studies in fungi.
This study contributes to the understanding of agaric-sequestrate evolution through gene expression comparison of closely related agaric (Leratiomyces ceres) and sequestrate (Leratiomyces erythrocephalus) fungi. This comparison identified multiple candidate genes relating to DNA binding, cell wall modification, and hyphal binding, and others, which are likely to contribute to agaric-sequestrate evolution.
This study also analysed strains of the agaric fungus Coprinopsis cinerea that were novel developmental mutants. These strains did not fruit and displayed noticeable growth differences from each other. This study investigated these mutants and identified multiple genes potentially involved in fruiting/growth that were affected by impactful mutations.
Multiple genes predicted to affect fruiting body formation were identified in this study. Knocking down these genes as the fruiting body develops via double stranded interfering RNA (dsiRNA) would be a good proof of concept test, however, this technique has not been used in mushrooms. This study provides evidence for dsiRNA being able to be penetrate into the fruiting body Pleurotus pulmonarius, as well as it potentially affecting targeted genes associated with cap colour. However, more investigations as to the movement and stability of dsiRNA are needed to further determine its efficacy.