Mapping of genes abundantly expressed during fruiting body formation of Lentinula edodes

For molecular breeding of mushrooms, understanding the mechanism of fruiting body formation by gene expression level is one of vital approaches. To identify the genes controlling traits of fruiting body and determine functions of their genes, the position of candidate genes should be combined with QTL analyses data. As primarily step to analyze the mechanism of fruiting body formation of Lentinula edodes, we located 12 loci containing specifically or abundantly expressed genes during fruiting body formation stage onto a linkage map of L. edodes. Two mapped genes were completely cosegregated from the mfbC gene, and an expressed sequence tag (EST) marker, LEEST359, respectively. In addition, other 2 genes were suggested to be closely located on the genome of L. edodes, because the 2 genes completely cosegregated each other. As a whole, 12 genes isolated from primordia and specifically or abundantly expressed during fruiting body formation were studded all over the genome of L. edodes, and mapped to 8 linkage groups.