PubMed · 2026-05-15
Scientists reviewed the state of genetic research on Pleurotus mushrooms (oyster and king oyster mushrooms), finding that while genome sequencing has expanded greatly, tools for actually editing those genes remain limited to just two species. This review maps what's possible now and where the field needs to go next.
Whole genome sequences are now available for 14 Pleurotus species, providing a growing reference library for functional gene discovery.
CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing has only been successfully applied to 2 species (P. eryngii and P. ostreatus) due to difficulties establishing transformation systems and low homologous recombination efficiency.
RNAi and gene overexpression techniques are well-established and routinely used across most Pleurotus species, making them the current workhorse tools for functional research.
