Establishing an Interactive Sequence Database for Shiitake Cultivar
Identification
Abstract
Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) hold significant cultural and
economic value, particularly in Asia where they are extensively
cultivated. The diversification of shiitake cultivars, driven by the
need to adapt to various climatic conditions and cultivation methods,
has resulted in over 200 distinct cultivars. Reliable identification of
these cultivars is crucial for breeding, intellectual property
protection, and effective genetic resource management. Traditional
morphological methods are inadequate due to their subjectivity and
labor-intensive nature. This study leverages nanopore high-throughput
sequencing to comprehensively analyze the rDNA regions (SSU, ITS, LSU,
IGS) of 41 shiitake strains from Taiwan’s Bioresource Collection and
Research Center (BCRC), comprising 5 wild strains, 33 commercial
strains, and 3 wild-commercial hybrids. Our results identified the IGS1
region as the most variable and suitable for cultivar differentiation.
Consequently, we developed an interactive online database that
integrates 317 IGS1 sequences from Taiwan, Japan, and China. This
platform allows users to upload their IGS1 sequences and identify
similar cultivars through a user-friendly interface, enhancing the
precision and efficiency of shiitake cultivar identification.