Microsatellite markers were developed for the cultivated mushroom, Pleurotus eryngii, following the analysis of 88 unique (CT)n or (GTG)n sequences. In this study, we showed that 30 P. eryngii strains, comprising five cultivars and 25 wild strains, could be identified using a total of 20 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, and a combination of only six selected SSR markers was sufficient to discriminate these strains. These SSR markers are a very useful tool for the precise identification of P. eryngii strains, allowing for protection of the rights of the original producer.

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Direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) without DNA purification was performed on fruit body tissues and mycelia from seven mushroom species (Lentinula edodes, Agaricus bisporus, Grifola frondosa, Pleurotus eryngii, Hypsizygus marmoreus, Flammulina velutipes, and Pholiota nameko) and mycelia only from three other species that lacking fruitification in artificial culture (Tricholoma matsutake, Lyophyllum shimeji, and Rhizopogon rubescens). rDNA fragments could be amplified from only mycelia of H. marmoreus, P. nameko, F. velutipes and A. bisporus by direct PCR. Following a crude extraction with TE buffer containing 2% Triton X-100, DNA fragments at the expected size were amplified from genomic DNA of all mushroom species. This semi-direct PCR method is rapid and convenient as some steps in the conventional PCR amplification, such as phenol extraction and ethanol precipitation, can be omitted.

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Cellular polyamines of three mushroom species belonging to phylum Ascomycota and 87 belonging to phylum Basidiomycota were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. Spermine (a tetra-amine) and agmatine (a guanidinoamine) were detected in 105 acid-extracted polyamine fractions from the fruit bodies. Among the 20 edible species in 13 genera, no differences in polyamine profiles were found between wild and cultivated mushrooms. Putrescine and spermidine were widely distributed across the 90 mushroom species analyzed, while spermine and agmatine, as major polyamines, were distributed among 10 and 23 species, respectively. Distribution of homospermidine and canavalmine was limited to eight genera of the family Boletaceae. The cellular level of spermine and/or agmatine was significantly different in the pileus and stipe of the subclass Hymenomycetidae, in the shell, gleba and spore lump of the subclass Gasteromycetidae, and in the normal fruit body and deformed mycelial lump of Rhodophyllus abortivus (Entroma abortivum).

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