{"id":368631,"date":"2023-12-04T11:25:33","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T16:25:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/more-than-100-magic-mushroom-genomes-point-the-way-to-new-cultivars\/"},"modified":"2023-12-04T12:00:32","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T17:00:32","slug":"more-than-100-magic-mushroom-genomes-point-the-way-to-new-cultivars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/more-than-100-magic-mushroom-genomes-point-the-way-to-new-cultivars\/","title":{"rendered":"More than 100 \u201cmagic mushroom\u201d genomes point the way to new cultivars","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"
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Scientists have amassed genome data for dozens of \u201cmagic mushroom\u201d isolates and cultivars, with the goal to learn more about how their domestication and cultivation has changed them. The findings, published December 4 in the journal Current Biology<\/em>, may point the way to the production of intriguing new cultivars, say the researchers.<\/p>\n

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Scientists have amassed genome data for dozens of \u201cmagic mushroom\u201d isolates and cultivars, with the goal to learn more about how their domestication and cultivation has changed them. The findings, published December 4 in the journal Current Biology<\/em>, may point the way to the production of intriguing new cultivars, say the researchers.<\/p>\n

The study shows that commercial cultivars of the mushroom Psilocybe cubensis<\/em> lack genetic diversity because of their domestication for human use. Meanwhile, a naturalized population of mushrooms in Australia has maintained much more diversity, they show, including unique gene variants controlling the production of the mushroom\u2019s active ingredient, psilocybin.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was surprising was the extreme homozygosity of some cultivars of magic mushroom,\u201d says Alistair McTaggart of The University of Queensland, Australia. \u201cSome of these cultivars have been nearly stripped of any diversity except at their genes controlling sexual reproduction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether this happened intentionally, by targeted inbreeding to fix traits over the last half century, or unintentionally through a lack of diversity to cross against is hard to know,\u201d he says. \u201cThe trailblazers who domesticated magic mushrooms have set the stage for how we can advance cultivation and innovate with shrooms as we improve our understanding of psilocybin and its benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n

McTaggart says that research into these mushrooms has been driven by an\u00a0underground community of people interested in magic mushrooms, many of whom are co-authors on the new study. With no financial support for the effort, the wider community of people interested in magic mushrooms collected the cultivars and isolates under study, sending samples at their own expense and risk. Ultimately, the researchers sequenced and assembled DNA data for more than 100 varieties of magic mushrooms.<\/p>\n

As part of the study, the team sequenced genomes from 38 isolates from Australia and compared them to 86 commercially available cultivars. They wanted to find out whether the mushrooms were introduced to Australia and how domestication has changed those that are commercially available.<\/p>\n

Their analyses showed that the Australian mushrooms are naturalized, having bounced back to a population size large enough to maintain genetic diversity after their initial introduction to the country. By comparison, commercial cultivars are sorely lacking in diversity across their genomes. The findings suggest that some of the unique gene variants in Australia may allow for differences in the synthesis of psilocybin and related compounds.<\/p>\n

The data they\u2019ve generated on mating compatibility and diversity at the genes controlling production of psilocybin \u201cwill advance breeding for \u2018designer shrooms,\u2019 in which heterozygosity of psilocybin alleles may unlock variety in the production of psychedelic tryptamines,\u201d McTaggart says. In fact, he reports, their start-up company, Funky Fungus, has already started to translate the findings for developing designer cultivars.<\/p>\n

McTaggart says these developments may have significance for the use of psilocybin as a natural compound, with potential benefits for treating mental health disorders.<\/p>\n

\u201cMagic mushrooms are the cheapest source of psilocybin and may fill a niche in natural drug development,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is yet more to understand about how magic mushrooms produce other compounds that may impact a psilocybin experience, and this will be an exciting area of research to watch unfold.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The researchers received support from the University of Queensland RSP Fellowships. Alistair McTaggart and co-author Chris Appleyard are owners of Funky Fungus, a company that grows magic mushrooms to produce medicinal psilocybin.<\/p>\n

Current<\/em> Biology, McTaggart et al.: \u201cDomestication through clandestine cultivation constrained genetic diversity in magic mushrooms relative to naturalized populations.\u201d https:\/\/www.cell.com\/current-biology\/fulltext\/S0960-9822(23)01460-4\u00a0<\/p>\n

Current Biology <\/em>(@CurrentBiology<\/a>), published by Cell Press, is a bimonthly journal that features papers across all areas of biology. Current Biology<\/em> strives to foster communication across fields of biology, both by publishing important findings of general interest and through highly accessible front matter for non-specialists. Visit: http:\/\/www.cell.com\/current-biology. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Journal<\/h4>\n

Current Biology<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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DOI<\/h4>\n

10.1016\/j.cub.2023.10.059 <\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Method of Research<\/h4>\n

Observational study<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Subject of Research<\/h4>\n

Not applicable<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Article Title<\/h4>\n

Domestication through clandestine cultivation constrained genetic diversity in magic mushrooms relative to naturalized populations<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Article Publication Date<\/h4>\n

4-Dec-2023<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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COI Statement<\/h4>\n

Authors Alistair McTaggart and Chris Appleyard are owners of Funky Fungus, a company that grows magic mushrooms to produce medicinal psilocybin.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n