Abstract
Morchella species are well known world-round as popular and prized edible fungi due to their unique culinary flavor. Recently, several species have been successfully cultivated in China. However, their reproductive modes are still unknown, and their basic biology needs to be elucidated. Here, we use the morel genome information to investigate mating systems and life cycles of fourteen black morel species. Mating type-specific primers were developed to screen and genotype ascospores, hymenia and stipes from 223 ascocarps of the 14 species from Asia and Europe. Our data indicated that they are all heterothallic and their life cycles are predominantly haploid, but sterile haploid fruiting also exists. Ascospores in all species are mostly haploid, homokaryotic, and multinuclear, whereas aborted ascospores without any nuclei were also detected. Interestingly, we monitored divergent spatial distribution of both mating types in natural morel populations and cultivated sites, where the fertile tissue of fruiting bodies usually harbored both mating types, whereas sterile tissue of wild morels constantly had one MAT allele, while the sterile tissue of cultivated strains always exhibited both MAT alleles. Furthermore, MAT1-1-1 was detected significantly more commonly than MAT1-2-1 in natural populations, which strongly suggested a competitive advantage for MAT1-1 strains.
Highlights
As iconic famous edible fruiting bodies, true morels, belonging to the genus Morchella, have been highly appreciated, prized and marketed worldwide since antiquity due to their texture and unique scent[1]
In order to answer these questions, 223 samples belonging to fourteen black morel species were analyzed here, covering wild and cultivated samples, which were assessed by analyzing the presence of both mating types: MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1
We revealed one MAT1-1-1 and one MAT1-2-1 which we confirmed by blast to Genbank, resepctively best matching with T. indicum (AHE80940, AHE80941), Stagonosporopsis chrysanthemi (AHY81336) and Penicillium kewense (CBY44653)
Summary
As iconic famous edible fruiting bodies, true morels, belonging to the genus Morchella, have been highly appreciated, prized and marketed worldwide since antiquity due to their texture and unique scent[1]. Our objectives were: (1) to infer their phylogeny and genetic diversity of the MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 genes, (2) to illuminate the reproductive modes of fourteen black morels species and (3) to evaluate both mating types distribution segregation within populations and in ascomatas, and their biparental roles partition. In order to answer these questions, 223 samples belonging to fourteen black morel species were analyzed here, covering wild and cultivated samples, which were assessed by analyzing the presence of both mating types: MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1. All of these results will help to elucidate morel biology and are of considerable practical impact for optimizing cultivation techniques and increasing production in morels fields
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