Establishment of a PEG-mediated protoplast transformation system for the orchid mycorrhizal fungus Mycena purpureofusca.
A PEG-mediated protoplast transformation system was successfully developed for Mycena purpureofusca, achieving a stable transformation frequency of 4.3% with 8.90×10^6 protoplasts/mL yield.
- Why it matters: Understanding and manipulating the genetics of M. purpureofusca is crucial for studying orchid-fungal symbiosis and improving fungal strains, but current methods are lacking.
- What they did: The researchers optimized key parameters such as fungal age, enzyme concentration, and digestion conditions to establish an efficient transformation protocol using the pCAMBIA1303 vector and PEG treatment.
- The result: This system enables functional genetic studies in M. purpureofusca, facilitating research on orchid-mycorrhizal interactions and potential development of enhanced fungal strains for medicinal and edible orchids.