Ganoderma lingzhi is an important medicinal fungus, and it is particularly important to select strains with high yields and active substance contents. In this study, protoplasts of G. lingzhi were thermally inactivated to destroy intracellular enzyme proteins and preserve DNA. The DNA of G. resinaceum was damaged by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and other components of the protoplasm except DNA were preserved. Then, the protoplast was induced using polyethylene glycol (PEG) for fusion. The results showed that the optimal thermal inactivation conditions for G. lingzhi were 30 min in a 45 °C water bath, and the optimal UV inactivation conditions for G. resinaceum were 70 s of irradiation using a 20 W UV lamp at a vertical distance of 15 cm. Antagonistic tests, internal transcribed space (ITS) and mitochondrial DNA identification, intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular markers and morphology were used to distinguish the parents from the fusants. Four true fusants were obtained, and the yield was 2.5%. The fruiting body yield of the fusants was significantly higher than that of G. lingzhi, and the polysaccharide and triterpene contents of the RAD-64 fusant were significantly higher than those of G. lingzhi. The results presented in this paper show that protoplast fusion technology can effectively improve G. lingzhi varieties and support the breeding of new varieties.

In mink breeding, balanced selection for growth and reproductive features is essential because these traits are contradictory. The variables of total number born (TNB), number born alive (NBA), and body weight (BW) are highly valuable in terms of their importance in mink production. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive these features could offer vital insights into their genetic compositions. In the present study, the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes of 219 minks were obtained via double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq). Following several rounds of screening, about 2,415,121 high-quality SNPs were selected for a genome-wide association study (GWAS). The GWAS was used to determine BW and reproductive traits in pink-eyed white mink. It was suggested that SLC26A36, STXBP5L, and RPS 29 serve as potential genes for the total number of kits born (TNB), while FSCB, PDPN, NKX 2-1, NFKB 1, NFKBIA, and GABBR1 are key genes for the number born alive (NBA). Moreover, RTTN, PRPF31, MACROD1, and KYAT1 are possible BW genes based on association results and available functional data from gene and mammalian phenotype databases. These results offer essential information about the variety of mink and theoretical principles for applying mink breeds.