Molecular karyotype of the white rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus

• Published in: Applied and environmental microbiology Vol. 65; no. 8; pp. 3413 - 3417
• Main Authors: Larraya, L.M, Perez, G, Penas, M.M, Baars, J.J.P, Mikosch, T.S.P, Pisabarro, A.G, Ramirez, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01.08.1999
• Subjects: Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; chromosome number; Chromosomes, Fungal - genetics; Cytogenetics; DNA Probes - genetics; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Genomics; Karyotyping; Molecular Sequence Data; Molecules; Mycology; Pleurotus - genetics; Pleurotus ostreatus; pulsed field electrophoresis; Thallophyta, bryophyta; Vegetals and fungi; Fungi; Pleurotus ostreatus; Cytogenetics; Basidiomycetes; Chromosome; Karyotype; Edible fungi; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0099-2240; 1098-5336
• DOI: 10.1128/aem.65.8.3413-3417.1999

The white rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus is an edible basidiomycete with increasing agricultural and biotechnological importance. Genetic manipulation and breeding of this organism are restricted because of the lack of knowledge about its genomic structure. In this study, we analyzed the genomic constitution of P. ostreatus by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis optimized for the separation of its chromosomes. We have determined that it contains 11 pairs of chromosomes with sizes ranging from 1.4 to 4.7 Mbp. In addition to chromosome separation, the use of single-copy DNA probes allowed us to resolve the ambiguities caused by chromosome comigration. When the two nuclei present in the dikaryon were separated by protoplasting, analysis of their karyotypes revealed length polymorphisms affecting various chromosomes. This is, to our knowledge, the clearest chromosome separation available for this species.