Molecular characterization of specialty mushroom germplasm of the National Mushroom Repository

Abstract

Sixty-one specialty mushroom germplasm accessions of the National Mushroom Repository (NMR) were characterized using DNA fingerprinting techniques. Phylogenetic analyses based on Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles and direct sequencing of 5.8S rRNA gene region revealed intergeneric, inter- and intraspecific variations in Volvariella, Lentinula, Ganoderma and Calocybe group of accessions. Multiple sequence alignment of all the accessions within species exhibited polymorphism in ITS-I and ITS-II but not in the conserved 5.8S rRNA gene regions. In all, four types of V. volvacea, two types each of Lentinula, Ganoderma, Calocybe and one type of Trametes versicolor sequences were obtained. Sequence comparisons with NCBI database separated Schizophyllum commune and a fungal endophyte from Volvariella group, five accessions of Pleurotus from Lentinula, and Trametes versicolor and Tyromyces chioneous from Ganoderma group of accessions. Fifteen cultures deposited by various researchers were molecularly characterized and taxa re-designated.