Whole-genome Sequencing of the Cultivated Button Mushroom Agaricus Bisporus:

The culmination of the first half-century of investigations into the genome of Agaricus bisporus was marked by the first whole-genome sequencing for a strain of this species. The genome of a second strain of A. bisporus was sequenced the following year. While a structural view of the genome is now effectively complete, functional interpretations of the many gene sequences, supported by accumulating experimental data, are still being developed. A first summary of the physiological capabilities and strategies of this ‘humicolous’ species is now in preparation; when completed it should illuminate the role of the fungus in its natural ecosystems, and provide the most detailed view to date on the interaction of the fungus with its complex commercial compost substrate. Ultimately all functional and behavioral aspects of the mushroom may potentially be decoded by investigating these and additional genome sequences. The availability of wholegenome sequences to the Agaricus research community represents a milestone of unprecedented potential.