• Life cycle transcriptomics of...

*Result*: Life cycle transcriptomics of the homothallic cultivated morel (Morchella rufobrunnea).

Title:
Life cycle transcriptomics of the homothallic cultivated morel (Morchella rufobrunnea).
Authors:
Van Wyk J; Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, Molecular Plant Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Electronic address: vanwykju@msu.edu., Wang X; Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, Molecular Plant Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Electronic address: wxinxin@wustl.edu., Mathieu D; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, Biochemistry Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Electronic address: mathieud@msu.edu., Mills GL; Gourmet Mushrooms Inc., Scottville, MI, 49454, USA. Electronic address: Gmills@mycopia.com., Childs KL; Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, 166 Plant Biology Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Electronic address: kchilds@msu.edu., Bonito G; Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, Molecular Plant Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Electronic address: bonito@msu.edu.
Source:
Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B [Fungal Genet Biol] 2026 Feb; Vol. 182, pp. 104056. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Dec 18.
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Academic Press Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 9607601 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1096-0937 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 10871845 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Fungal Genet Biol Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Original Publication: Orlando, FL : Academic Press, c1996-
MeSH Terms:
Life Cycle Stages*/genetics , Ascomycota*/genetics , Ascomycota*/growth & development , Transcriptome*, Mycelium/genetics ; Mycelium/growth & development ; Spores, Fungal/genetics ; Spores, Fungal/growth & development ; Genes, Mating Type, Fungal ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genome, Fungal ; Gene Expression Profiling
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: Conidia; Genome; Homothallic; MAT loci; Morchellaceae; Transcriptome
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20251220 Date Completed: 20260129 Latest Revision: 20260129
Update Code:
20260130
DOI:
10.1016/j.fgb.2025.104056
PMID:
41421424
Database:
MEDLINE

*Further Information*

*Morels (Morchella spp.) are iconic edible spring mushrooms renowned for their unique, meaty and earthy flavor profile. Wild-foraged morels are heavily relied upon to meet consumer demands, but optimizing cultivation is becoming critical as popularity continues to grow. The mating systems of Morchella spp. are of particular interest given their relevance to cultivation. Both heterothallic (outcrossing) and homothallic (self-fertile) life cycles have been reported. Here, we sequenced the genome of a commercial strain of Morchella rufobrunnea (GMI-8) to examine the genomic architecture surrounding the mating-type (MAT) loci and to provide a reference for transcriptomic analyses across its life cycle. To investigate gene regulation across developmental stages, we generated transcriptomes from six tissue types (sclerotia, mycelium, conidia, fundament, stipe, and hymenium) representing five key life stages. This sampling allowed us to profile the expression of mating-related, growth, and developmental associated genes across these life stages. Our analyses revealed a haploid genome size of 58 Mb, and co-localization of both MAT genes as required for sexual reproduction, confirming homothallism in this species. MAT genes (MAT1-1-1, 1-1-10, and 1-2-1) were highly expressed in conidial, fundament, and hymenial tissues, supporting the hypothesis that conidia may function as a nuclear donor/spermatia. This work improves our understanding of sexual reproduction and the life cycle of Morchella, and establishes a genomic and transcriptomic foundation for future studies of Morchella developmental biology.
(Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.)*

*Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this paper.*