Distribution of incompatibility factors in natural populations of Hypsizygus marmoreus in Japan.

Diverse incompatibility factors are widely distributed across natural populations of Hypsizygus marmoreus in Japan, with 82 unique alleles identified among 71 isolates.

• Why it matters: Understanding the distribution of incompatibility factors is crucial for improving breeding strategies and conserving genetic diversity in this important cultivated mushroom.
• What they did: Researchers analyzed 71 wild isolates from various regions in Japan, performing mating tests with tester strains to identify alleles at A and B loci, revealing shared and region-specific factors.
• The result: Findings show a high diversity of incompatibility factors, with regional differences especially in B factors, suggesting ecological and evolutionary influences like dispersal and balancing selection shape their distribution.