The genome ofAuriculariopsis amplasheds light on fruiting body development and wood-decay of bark-inhabiting fungi

AbstractThe Agaricomycetes are fruiting body forming fungi that produce some of the most efficient enzyme systems to degrade woody plant materials. Despite decades-long interest in the ecological and functional diversity of wood-decay types and in fruiting body development, the evolution of the genetic repertoires of both traits are incompletely known. Here, we sequenced and analyzed the genome ofAuriculariopsis ampla, a close relative of the model speciesSchizophyllum commune. Comparative analyses of wood-decay genes in these and other 29 Agaricomycetes species revealed that the gene family composition ofA. amplaandS. communeare transitional between that of white rot species and less efficient wood-degraders (brown rot, ectomycorrhizal). Rich repertoires of suberinase and tannase genes were found in both species, with tannases generally restricted to species that preferentially colonize bark-covered wood. Analyses of fruiting body transcriptomes in bothA. amplaandS. communehighlighted a high rate of divergence of developmental gene expression. Several genes with conserved developmental expression were found, nevertheless, including 9 new transcription factors as well as small secreted proteins, some of which may serve as fruiting body-specific effector molecules. Taken together, the genome sequence and developmental transcriptome ofAuriculariopsis amplahas highlighted novel aspects of wood-decay diversity and of fruiting body development in mushroom-forming fungi.