Stimulative effects of light and a temperature downshift on transcriptional expressions of developmentally regulated genes in the initial stages of fruiting-body formation of the basidiomycetous mushroom Lentinula edodes.

Quantitative reverse transcription PCR experiments were done to analyze the effects of light and a temperature downshift on transcriptional expressions of a variety of developmentally regulated genes in the initial stages of fruiting-body formation of Lentinula edodes wild-type strain FMC2. It was revealed that both proper light conditions and a temperature downshift are required for high levels of transcriptions of the genes and the formation of fruiting bodies. In L. edodes MIL-LEW-M13-1 strain, which has been reported previously to be capable of forming fruiting bodies without a low-temperature treatment, the expressions of the developmentally regulated genes were enhanced by light exposure.