Abstract
Spawn aging poses a substantial challenge to the Agaricus bisporus industry. This study focuses on the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the aging process of A. bisporus spawn. We conducted a comprehensive comparative transcriptome analysis to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying A. bisporus spawn aging. A total of 1620 genes with significant expression changes between the normal and aged spawn were identified, including 917 up-regulated genes and 703 down-regulated genes. Our results revealed a notable down-regulation of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, mitochondrial energy metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, repair mechanisms for oxidative stress-induced damage, fatty acid β-oxidation, and amino acid degradation in aged A. bisporus spawn. Additionally, we observed a decreased expression of genes involved in critical signal transduction pathways associated with mitochondrial function in aged mycelium as well as genes responsible for maintaining mitochondrial stability. The up-regulated genes in aged spawn mainly affect mitochondrial fission and programmed cell death, impacting mitochondrial function. Overall, the present study first provides evidence for the pivotal role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the aging process of A. bisporus spawn and contributes to the development of targeted strategies to enhance mitochondrial function, mitigate spawn aging, and improve the yield and quality of A. bisporus cultivation.