title: Genetic diversity of Kenyan native oyster mushroom (Pleurotus).
abstract: Members of the genus Pleurotus, also commonly known as oyster mushroom, are well known for their socioeconomic and biotechnological potentials. Despite being one of the most important edible fungi, the scarce information about the genetic diversity of the species in natural populations has limited their sustainable utilization. A total of 71 isolates of Pleurotus species were collected from three natural populations: 25 isolates were obtained from Kakamega forest, 34 isolates from Arabuko Sokoke forest and 12 isolates from Mount Kenya forest. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was applied to thirteen isolates of locally grown Pleurotus species obtained from laboratory samples using five primer pair combinations. AFLP markers and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of the ribosomal DNA were used to estimate the genetic diversity and evaluate phylogenetic relationships, respectively, among and within populations. The five primer pair combinations generated 293 polymorphic loci across the 84 isolates. The mean genetic diversity among the populations was 0.25 with the population from Arabuko Sokoke having higher (0.27) diversity estimates compared to Mount Kenya population (0.24). Diversity between the isolates from the natural population (0.25) and commercial cultivars (0.24) did not differ significantly. However, diversity was greater within (89%; P > 0.001) populations than among populations. Homology search analysis against the GenBank database using 16 rDNA ITS sequences randomly selected from the two clades of AFLP dendrogram revealed three mushroom species: P. djamor, P. floridanus and P. sapidus; the three mushrooms form part of the diversity of Pleurotus species in Kenya. The broad diversity within the Kenyan Pleurotus species suggests the possibility of obtaining native strains suitable for commercial cultivation.
authors.affiliation: Food Technology Division, Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute, P.O. Box 30650-00100 Nairobi, Kenya ojwdan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ojwang D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Otieno
authors.affiliation: Food Technology Division, Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute, P.O. Box 30650-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Calvin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Onyango
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biotechnology Research, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O Box 62000-00200 Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Justus Mungare
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Onguso
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100 Eldoret, Kenya.
authors.forename: Lexa G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Matasyoh
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Institute, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, P.O. Box 14733-00800, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Bramwel W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Wanjala
authors.affiliation: Biosciences eastern and central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI Hub, ILRI, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wamalwa
authors.affiliation: Biosciences eastern and central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI Hub, ILRI, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Jagger J W
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D054458:Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis; D065928:Forests; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007630:Kenya; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D020076:Pleurotus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014197:Trees / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: DNA polymorphism; genetic variability; molecular phylogeny; oyster mushroom