The resource utilization of peach wood as agricultural waste holds significant importance for the sustainable development of the edible fungi industry, yet its regulatory effects on the physiology and safety of Lentinula edodes (L. edodes) remain unclear. This study selected four L. edodes (F2, 0912, N5, and 215) and systematically analyzed their cultivation adaptability across five peach wood substrate proportions (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%). Results indicated that while high peach wood proportions inhibited laccase activity and delayed mycelial growth, high carboxymethyl cellulase and xylanase activity formed a critical compensatory effect, ultimately enhancing total yield. Peach wood improved production through strain-specific mechanisms. F2 increased via single mushroom weight gain, while N5 relied on xylanase-driven primordia differentiation to boost mushroom numbers. Adding peach wood significantly increased crude protein, crude lipid, and total polysaccharide in F2, maintaining normal agronomic traits and increasing secondary mushroom proportion. Safety risks focused on arsenic accumulation, with 80% peach wood causing F2 to exceed control levels, albeit remaining far below the national standards. This study is among the first to elucidate peach wood’s temporal enzyme regulation for the maintenance of L. edodes yield. Future optimization through peach wood pretreatment and low arsenic strain selection could provide technical support for the high value utilization of agricultural waste.

Light quality is a pivotal environmental signal governing the morphogenesis and metabolic programming of edible fungi. This study evaluated the effects of eight light qualities—red (R), green (G), blue (B), red-green (RG), red-blue (RB), green-blue (GB), red-green-blue (RGB), and dark control (CK)—on the agronomic traits of Lentinula edodes. Among all treatments, blue light (B) emerged as the most effective regulator, yielding the highest productivity per log (228.12 g), and significantly enhancing pileus diameter (45.17 mm) and stipe thickness (29.45 mm). To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were performed on primordia and mature fruiting bodies. Transcriptomic profiling identified 4280 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under blue light, which were significantly enriched in energy metabolism and structural development pathways. Metabolomic analysis revealed 45 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), highlighting a 7.64-fold upregulation of 9(S)-HPODE and a marked downregulation of L-arginine at the harvest stage under blue light. Multi-omics integration demonstrated that blue light orchestrates a strategic metabolic shift: it activates arginine and proline metabolism during the primordial stage, maintains linoleic acid metabolism throughout development, and triggers alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism during the transition to maturity. These pathways facilitate the conversion of amino acids into energy precursors and enhance cell membrane fluidity through unsaturated fatty acid synthesis to support rapid growth. Conversely, red light treatment triggered stress-related MAPK signaling, delayed primordium formation, and redirected resources toward stipe elongation via phenylalanine accumulation, resulting in significantly lower yields. In conclusion, this study confirms that blue light is the optimal condition for L. edodes cultivation, providing a robust molecular foundation for precision light-regulation strategies to maximize yield and quality in commercial production.

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.

Sanghuangporus sanghuang (S. sanghuang) is an important medicinal mushroom rich in bioactive compounds. Selenium (Se) biofortification may further enhance its functional value and industrial profitability; however, evidence-based guidance on Se source selection and dosage for production remains insufficient. Using the strain “Sanghuang Hu2”, we compared sodium selenite, nano-selenium (nano-Se), and selenium-enriched yeast (Se-yeast) at different supplementation levels and comprehensively evaluated their effects on mycelial growth and fruiting body development, Se accumulation and speciation, and nutritional quality. The responses of S. sanghuang were strongly Se-source-specific and concentration-dependent. Se-yeast caused the least inhibition of mycelial growth while achieving the highest Se uptake and biotransformation efficiency. During bag cultivation, supplementation with 15 mg/kg Se-yeast significantly increased single-bag yield and biological efficiency without prolonging full colonization time and exhibited superior input cost performance. This treatment enabled an extremely high proportion of organic Se accumulation (>99.5%), dominated by selenomethionine. Moreover, Se-yeast markedly improved crude protein, crude polysaccharides, and total amino acids in fruiting bodies, with lysine showing the largest increase. Overall, considering growth and yield, Se accumulation/speciation, nutritional enhancement, and economic feasibility, Se-yeast is the optimal Se source for Se-enriched Sanghuang, with a recommended dosage of 15 mg/kg.