Genomic and Experimental Investigations of Auriscalpium and Strobilurus Fungi Reveal New Insights into Pinecone Decomposition

Saprophytic fungi (SPF) play vital roles in ecosystem dynamics and decomposition. However, because of the complexity of living systems, our understanding of how SPF interact with each other to decompose organic matter is very limited. Here we studied their roles and interactions in the decomposition of highly specialized substrates between the two genera Auriscalpium and Strobilurus fungi-colonized fallen pinecones of the same plant sequentially. We obtained the genome sequences from seven fungal species with three pairs: A. orientale-S. luchuensis, A. vulgare-S. stephanocystis and A. microsporum-S. pachcystidiatus/S. orientalis on cones of Pinus yunnanensis, P. sylvestris and P. armandii, respectively, and the organic profiles of substrate during decomposition. Our analyses revealed evidence for both competition and cooperation between the two groups of fungi during decomposition, enabling efficient utilization of substrates with complementary profiles of carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes). The Auriscalpium fungi are highly effective at utilizing the primary organic carbon, such as lignin, and hemicellulose in freshly fallen cones, facilitated the invasion and colonization by Strobilurus fungi. The Strobilurus fungi have genes coding for abundant CAZymes to utilize the remaining organic compounds and for producing an arsenal of secondary metabolites such as strobilurins that can inhibit other fungi from colonizing the pinecones.