# Functionally distinct core microbes of Tricholoma matsutake revealed by cross-study analysis

## TL;DR

This study identifies key microbes in the soil around matsutake mushrooms and their roles in supporting mushroom growth.

## Contribution

A cross-study integration of microbial data reveals core and niche-specific microbes in matsutake ecosystems.

## Key findings

- Core microbial phylotypes were identified across geographically diverse matsutake shiro.
- Niche-specific microbes were found in soil, roots, and fruitbodies of matsutake.
- Microbes contribute to aromatic compound degradation and fruitbody development.

## Abstract

Tricholoma matsutake (TM), a prized wild mushroom in Eurasia, hosts distinct microbiomes in its mycorrhizal zone (shiro), with some microbes known to benefit TM. However, no study has systematically compared shiro-inhabiting microbiomes across multiple studies from either taxonomic or functional perspectives.

We first compiled bacterial and fungal amplicon sequences from public and newly generated datasets, then applied phylogenetic tree-based clustering to integrate technically heterogeneous sequences. This enabled the identification of core microbial phylotypes conserved in shiro from geographically diverse regions. We also revealed niche-specific phylotypes within the shiro, distinguishing those associated with soil, TM-colonized root, and fruitbody, thereby demonstrating clear niche differentiation. Functional predictions and experimental validation highlighted key roles of the microbes in degradation of aromatic compounds, utilization of plant-derived compounds, and fruitbody development.

Our cross-study integration of shiro microbial sequences identified core and niche-specific phylotypes with distinct ecological roles. This study lays a foundation for advancing ecological research and cultivation strategies for TM.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40168-025-02329-x.