Genetic Analysis of Population Structure in the Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus

这个项目试图通过使用经典和现代的遗传分析方法来回答关于野生蘑菇自然历史的几个基本问题。将对平菇的种群生物学和遗传学进行研究，以了解自然种群是如何建立和维持的。蘑菇独特的生活史使人们有可能进行各种旨在鉴定野生菌株及其近缘的遗传分析。这项研究的一个主要目的将是开发和测试通过使用遗传标记(如DNA指纹)来鉴定种群系谱的方法。分子方法提供的高水平分辨率使鉴定单个平菇菌株以及它们的直系亲本和后代成为可能。平菇也是一种重要的商业粮食作物，也是分解植物材料的重要酶的来源；为这项研究开发的遗传标记也应该对作物发展和生物技术有用。

This project seeks to answer several basic questions about the natural history of wild mushrooms by using classical and modern methods of genetic analysis. The population biology and genetics of the oyster mushroom will be studied, in order to understand how natural populations are established and maintained. The unique life history of mushrooms makes it possible to carry out a variety of genetic analyses aimed at identification of wild strains and their relatives. A primary aim of the study will be to develop and test methods for identification of population pedigrees through the use of genetic markers (such as DNA fingerprinting). The high level of resolution offered by molecular methods makes it possible to identify single strains of oyster mushrooms, as well as their immediate parents and progeny. Oyster mushrooms are also important as a commercial food crop and source of important enzymes for breaking down plant material; the genetic markers developed for this study should also be useful for crop development and biotechnology.