DNA Barcoding Mushroom Spawn Using EF-1α Barcodes: A Case Study in Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus)

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Oyster mushrooms (genus *Pleurotus*) are globally cultivated edible fungi.
• Traditional species identification methods are slow, difficult, and cause economic losses.
• Accurate and efficient identification is crucial for mushroom breeding and cultivation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of DNA barcode markers for identifying oyster mushroom species.
• To compare the efficacy of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 28S rDNA, and translation elongation factor 1α (EF-1α) genes.
• To identify a precise and concise method for oyster mushroom spawn identification.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 160 sequences from ITS, 28S rDNA, and EF-1α loci in 13 oyster mushroom species.
• Evaluation of intra- and interspecific divergences and ease of nucleotide sequence acquisition.
• Assessment of PCR amplification and sequencing success rates for each marker.

Main Results:

• EF-1α demonstrated the highest intra- and interspecific variation, successfully identifying 84.6% of species.
• EF-1α exhibited an 84% success rate for PCR amplification and sequencing, outperforming ITS and 28S rDNA.
• ITS and 28S rDNA showed lower species identification efficiency (61.5% and 46.2%) and had significant intraspecific variations.
• ITS and 28S rDNA had lower sequencing success rates (55% and 76%, respectively).

Conclusions:

• The EF-1α gene is proposed as a suitable DNA barcode marker for oyster mushroom spawn identification.
• EF-1α offers a more accurate and efficient alternative to traditional methods and other DNA markers.
• This advancement can aid mushroom breeding programs and reduce economic losses for growers.