The genome of Lyophyllum shimeji provides insight into the initial evolution of ectomycorrhizal fungal genomes

Yuuki Kobayashi, Tomoko F. Shibata, Hideki Hirakawa, Tomoaki Nishiyama, Akiyoshi Yamada, Mitsuyasu Hasebe, Shuji Shigenobu, Masayoshi Kawaguchi*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mycorrhizae are one of the most fundamental symbioses between plants and fungi, with ectomycorrhizae being the most widespread in boreal forest ecosystems. Ectomycorrhizal fungi are hypothesized to have evolved convergently from saprotrophic ancestors in several fungal clades, especially members of the subdivision Agaricomycotina. Studies on fungal genomes have identified several typical characteristics of mycorrhizal fungi, such as genome size expansion and decreases in plant cell-wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs). However, genomic changes concerning the evolutionary transition to the ectomycorrhizal lifestyle are largely unknown. In this study, we sequenced the genome of Lyophyllum shimeji, an ectomycorrhizal fungus that is phylogenetically related to saprotrophic species and retains some saprotroph-like traits. We found that the genome of Ly. shimeji strain AT787 lacks both incremental increases in genome size and reduced numbers of PCWDEs. Our findings suggest that the previously reported common genomic traits of mycorrhizal fungi are not essential for the ectomycorrhizal lifestyle, but are a result of abolishing saprotrophic activity. Since Ly. shimeji is commercially consumed as an edible mushroom, the newly available genomic information may also impact research designed to enhance the cultivation of this mushroom.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberdsac053
JournalDNA Research
Volume30
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023/02/01

Keywords

  • comparative genomics
  • ectomycorrhizae
  • edible mushroom
  • mycorrhizal fungi

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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