Bipolar, not tetrapolar: mating system determination in Inonotus hispidus through genomic and phenotypic analysis.

ABSTRACT: Inonotus hispidus is a traditional medicinal mushroom in China with significant potential for development of health products and future foods, owing to its diverse functional components and pharmacological activities. Recent advancements in cultivation techniques, coupled with growing market demand, have expanded the production scale of I. hispidus. Breeding superior strains is essential for industry progress, but the absence of clamp connections in I. hispidus complicates mating system studies, making accurate identification of homokaryotic strains a critical step. In this study, we first confirmed the multinucleate nature of both heterokaryotic and homokaryotic mycelia, revising the traditional concepts of monokaryotic and dikaryotic mycelia in this species. Additionally, the mating type

SUBMITTER: Chen Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12858565 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature