Selenium is a crucial trace element that necessitates exogenous supplementation and plays an essential role in human health, but its facilitation requires the conversion from inorganic to bioavailable organic forms. Selenium-enriched edible fungi provide an effective strategy for selenium fortification. Their easy cultivation, rapid growth, and excellent conversion capabilities make them ideal candidates for achieving selenium enrichment goals. This article reviews various methods for producing selenium-enriched products and highlights the benefits and functional properties of these fungi. It summarizes the mechanisms underlying selenium absorption and transformation within fungal biomass while considering influencing factors, such as environmental conditions, types of edible fungi, and sources of selenium. Furthermore, this article offers developmental recommendations to address current industrial challenges, providing theoretical references to foster healthy and sustainable advancements in this field.

Agronomic traits are key components in variety protection, cultivar development, and the formulation of DUS (distinct, uniform, and stable) test guidelines. P. giganteus is an increasingly popular and commercially promising edible macrofungi. In this study, both mycelial performance and fruiting body characters of 15 Pleurotus giganteus strains were investigated. The temperature gradient culture test indicated that, although most of the strains achieved optimal mycelial growth between 24 and 28 °C, a statistical difference in mycelial growth rates and temperature adaptability among strains were found, supporting that this trait has the potential to be adopted as an indicator in distinguishing strains. In the fruiting performance tests, the coefficient of variation (CV) of tested traits ranged from 5.30% (pileus diameter) to 18.70% (individual mushroom weight). The mushroom yields ranged from 103.37 g/bag (strain No. 15) to 275.76 g/bag (strain No. 9). The large divergence observed in individual mushroom weight tested strains, ranging from 40.88 g to 78.39 g (with median between 37.69 and 79.395 g), make it highly selective and a potential indicator in variety development. Strain No. 9 had the advantages of forming larger, heavier fruiting bodies and a more obvious funnel shape, which also exhibited the highest biological efficiency (15.61%). The results suggested some morphological traits showed high variety difference, such as pileus diameter (55.75 mm to 66.48 mm), stipe length (92.59 mm to 177.51 mm), stipe diameter (16.14 mm to 23.52 mm), and pileus thickness (13.38 mm to 19.75 mm). In the cluster analysis, the tested strains were grouped into four clusters based on agronomic traits: cluster Ⅰ comprised six strains (No. 6, No. 11, No. 8, No. 1, No. 14, and No. 9) with high mushroom yield; cluster Ⅱ included four strains (No. 3, No. 10, No. 7, and No. 4) with large pileus diameter and short stipe; cluster ⅡI consisted of four strains (No. 5, No. 12, No. 13, and No. 15) with relatively lower yields; and cluster Ⅳ included only strain No. 2 which was low in yield, individual mushroom weight, and biological efficiency, accompanied by smaller pileus size and shorter stipe. The results of the correlation analysis indicated three traits, including individual mushroom weight, stipe length, and pileus weight, were positively associated with high yield. This study suggested P. giganteus germplasm resources are of high abundance and their agronomic diversity is useful in distinguishing and developing different varieties. The findings of this work provide knowledge on the agronomic traits and cultivation performance of various P. giganteus strains, laying a foundation for the development of its DUS test guidelines and variety protection, as well as providing reference for the breeding and phenotype selection of high-quality cultivars.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades play a central role in eukaryotic signal transduction, regulating diverse biological processes including development and stress responses. However, despite Lentinula edodes being the most widely cultivated edible mushroom worldwide, its MAPK cascade gene families remain uncharacterized, and their involvement in cadmium (Cd) stress responses is completely unknown. In this study, we performed genome-wide identification of MAPK cascade genes in L. edodes, uncovering 16 members comprising three LeMAPKKK genes, four LeMAPKK genes, and nine LeMAPK genes. Phylogenetic and homology analyses classified these genes into three putative MAPK cascade pathways. qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated strain-specific, concentration-dependent, and temporally dynamic expression patterns under Cd stress. Notably, four genes (LeMAPK1, LeMAPK7, LeMAPKK2, and LeMAPKKK1) exhibited consistent upregulation across both strains and high Cd concentrations (1 and 10 mg/L) at the 7 h time point. Based on these findings, we propose a working model for Cd stress response in L. edodes centered on these core regulatory genes. These findings may inform breeding strategies for low-Cd-accumulating cultivars and the optimization of cultivation practices to reduce Cd content, with potential implications for the sustainable development of the L. edodes industry and human health.