Mating-Type Genes Play an Important Role in Fruiting Body Development in Morchella sextelata

Comparative analysis of the nutritional and biological properties between the pileus and stipe of Morchella sextelata

Morchella sextelata is a highly prized edible mushroom and is widely consumed for its distinctive taste and texture. The stipe of M. sextelata is significantly lower in priced compared to the pileus. The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive comparative analysis of the nutritional and biological properties between the pileus and stipe of M. sextelata. The results revealed that the stipe exhibited comparable levels of various nutrients and bioactive compounds to those found in the pileus. The stipe showed significantly higher levels of crude dietary fiber, various mineral elements, vitamins, amino acids, 5'-nucleotides, fatty acids, and specific sugars. Additionally, it also demonstrated significant abundance in bioactive compounds such as total flavonoids and ergothioneine. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into unlocking further knowledge about M. sextelata's nutritional composition while highlighting its potential health benefits associated with different parts of this highly esteemed edible mushroom.

Integration of Metabolomes and Transcriptomes Provides Insights into Morphogenesis and Maturation in Morchella sextelata

True morels (Morchella, Pezizales) are a popular edible and medicinal fungus with great nutritional and economic value. The dynamics and regulatory mechanisms during the morphogenesis and maturation of morels are poorly understood. In this study, the metabolomes and transcriptomes of the mycelium (MY), primordium differentiation (PR), young fruiting body (YFB), and mature fruiting body (MFB) were comprehensively analyzed to reveal the mechanism of the morphogenesis and maturation of Morchella sextelata. A total of 748 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) and 5342 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected, mainly enriched in the carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid metabolism pathways, with the transition from the mycelium to the primordium being the most drastic stage at both the metabolic and transcriptional levels. The integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics highlighted significant correlations between the DEMs and DEGs, and specific amino acid and nucleotide metabolic pathways were significantly co-enriched, which may play key roles in morphological development and ascocarp maturation. A conceptual model of transcriptional and metabolic regulation was proposed during morphogenesis and maturation in M. sextelata for the first time, in which environmental factors activate the regulation of transcription factors, which then promote metabolic and transcriptional regulation from vegetative to reproductive growth. These results provide insights into the metabolic dynamics and transcriptional regulation during the morphogenesis and maturation of morels and valuable resources for future breeding enhancement and sustainable artificial cultivation.

Large-Scale Field Cultivation of Morchella and Relevance of Basic Knowledge for Its Steady Production

Morels are one of the most highly prized edible and medicinal mushrooms worldwide. Therefore, historically, there has been a large international interest in their cultivation. Numerous ecological, physiological, genetic, taxonomic, and mycochemical studies have been previously developed. At the beginning of this century, China finally achieved artificial cultivation and started a high-scale commercial development in 2012. Due to its international interest, its cultivation scale and area expanded rapidly in this country. However, along with the massive industrial scale, a number of challenges, including the maintenance of steady economic profits, arise. In order to contribute to the solution of these challenges, formal research studying selection, species recognition, strain aging, mating type structure, life cycle, nutrient metabolism, growth and development, and multi-omics has recently been boosted. This paper focuses on discussing current morel cultivation technologies, the industrial status of cultivation in China, and the relevance of basic biological research, including, e.g., the study of strain characteristics, species breeding, mating type structure, and microbial interactions. The main challenges related to the morel cultivation industry on a large scale are also analyzed. It is expected that this review will promote a steady global development of the morel industry based on permanent and robust basic scientific knowledge.

Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Profiles Provide Insights into the Red-Stipe Symptom of Morel Fruiting Bodies

The cultivation of true morels (Morchella spp., Morchellaceae, Ascomycota) has rapidly expanded in recent years, especially in China. Red stipe is a symptom wherein the stipe of morel fruiting bodies becomes red-gray, resulting in the gradual death of the affected fruiting bodies. The impact of red-stipe symptom occurrence on the development and nutritional quality of morel fruiting bodies remains unclear. Herein, morel ascocarps with the red-stipe symptom (R) and normal (N), artificially cultivated in the Fujian Province of China, were selected for the transcriptome and metabolome analysis to study the physiological and biochemical responses of morel fruiting bodies to the red-stipe symptom. Transcriptome data revealed several differentially expressed genes between the R and N groups significantly enriched in the tyrosine, riboflavin, and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways. Similarly, the differentially accumulated metabolites were mainly assigned to metabolic pathways, including tyrosine, the biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites, and the biosynthesis of amino acids. Moreover, the transcriptome and metabolome data combination revealed that tyrosine metabolism was the most enriched pathway, which was followed by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transport, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. Overall, the integration of transcriptomic and metabolomic data of M. sextelata affected by red-stipe symptoms identified several important genes, metabolites, and pathways. These findings further improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the red-stipe symptom development of M. sextelata and provide new insights into how to optimize its cultivation methods.