Incidence and Diversity of Double-Stranded Rna inLentinula Edodes

Prevalence and diversity of mycoviruses occurring in Chinese Lentinula edodes germplasm resource

Incidence and banding patterns of virus-like dsRNA elements in 215 Chinese genetically diverse Lentinula edodes strains collected from wide geographic distribution (or producing areas) were first investigated, and 17 viruses were identified including eight novel viruses. The results revealed a 63.3% incidence of dsRNA elements in the cultivated strains and a 67.2% incidence in the wild strains. A total of 10 distinguishable dsRNAs ranging from 0.6 to 12 kbp and 12 different dsRNA patterns were detected in the positive strains. The molecular information of these dsRNA elements was characterized, and the molecular information of the other 12 different viral sequences with (+) ssRNA genome was revealed in four L. edodes strains with complex dsRNA banding patterns. RT-PCR was also done to verify the five dsRNA viruses and 12 (+) ssRNA ones. The results presented may enrich our understanding of L. edodes virus diversity, and will promote further research on virus-host interactions. IMPORTANCE: Viral infections involve complicated interactions including benign, harmful or possibly beneficial to hosts. Sometimes environment could lead to a transition in lifestyles from persistent to acute, resulting in a disease phenotype. The quality of spawn, such as the vulnerability to infection of viruses, is therefore important for mushroom production. Lentinula edodes, a wood rot basidiomycete fungus, was widely cultivated in the world for its edible and medicinal properties. In this study, the profile of dsRNA elements from Chinese genetically diverse L. edodes strains collected from wide geographic distribution or producing areas was first investigated. The molecular information of the dsRNA elements was characterized. Additionally, 12 different viral sequences with (+) ssRNA genome from four L. edodes strains with complex dsRNA banding patterns were identified. The results presented here will broaden our knowledge about mushroom viruses, and promote further studies of L. edodes production and the interaction between viruses and L. edodes.

Diversity of mycoviruses in edible fungi

Mycoviruses (fungal viruses) are widespread in all major taxonomic groups of fungi. Although most mycovirus infections are latent, some mycoviruses, such as La France isometric virus, mushroom virus X, and oyster mushroom spherical virus, can cause severe diseases in edible fungi and lead to significant production losses. Recently, deep sequencing has been employed as a powerful research tool to identify new mycoviruses and to enhance our understanding of virus diversity and evolution. An increasing number of novel mycoviruses that can infect edible fungi have been reported, including double-stranded (ds) RNA, positive-sense ( +)ssRNA, and negative-sense (-)ssRNA viruses. To date, approximately 60 mycoviruses have been reported in edible fungi. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the diversity and evolution of mycoviruses that can infect edible fungi. We also discuss mycovirus transmission, co-infections, and genetic variations, as well as the methods used to detect and control of mycoviruses in edible fungi, and provide insights for future research on mushroom viral diseases.

Two novel fungal negative-strand RNA viruses related to mymonaviruses and phenuiviruses in the shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes)

There is still limited information on the diversity of (-)ssRNA viruses that infect fungi. Here, we have discovered two novel (-)ssRNA mycoviruses in the shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes). The first virus has a monopartite RNA genome and relates to that of mymonaviruses (Mononegavirales), especially to Hubei rhabdo-like virus 4 from arthropods and thus designated as Lentinula edodes negative-strand RNA virus 1. The second virus has a putative bipartite RNA genome and is related to the recently discovered bipartite or tripartite phenui-like viruses (Bunyavirales) associated with plants and ticks, and designated as Lentinula edodes negative-strand RNA virus 2 (LeNSRV2). LeNSRV2 is likely the first segmented (-)ssRNA virus known to infect fungi. Its smaller RNA segment encodes a putative nucleocapsid and a plant MP-like protein using a potential ambisense coding strategy. These findings enhance our understanding of the diversity, evolution and spread of (-)ssRNA viruses in fungi.

Biological and Molecular Characteristics of a Novel Partitivirus Infecting the Edible Fungus Lentinula edodes

A new partitivirus named Lentinula edodes partitivirus 1 (LePV1) was isolated from a diseased L. edodes strain with severe degeneration of the mycelium and imperfect browning in bag cultures. The nucleotide sequences of LePV1 dsRNA-1 and dsRNA-2 were determined; they were 2,382 bp and 2,245 bp in length, and each contained a single ORF encoding RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and coat protein (CP), respectively. The purified virus preparation contained isometric particles 34 nm in diameter encapsidating these dsRNAs. Phylogenetic analyses showed LePV1 to be a new member of Betapartitivirus, with the RdRp sequence most closely related to Grapevine partitivirus. RT-PCR analysis showed that 27 of the 56 Chinese L. edodes core collection strains carry LePV1, with the virus being more common in wild strains than cultivated strains. In addition, qPCR analysis suggested that coinfection with L. edodes mycovirus HKB (LeV-HKB) could increase replication of the RdRp gene of LePV1. This study may be essential for the development of more accurate disease diagnostics and the formulation of control strategies for viral diseases in L. edodes.