Intraspecific Identification of Lingzhi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lingzhi (Agaricomycetes), Using ISSR Markers

This study aimed to obtain a set of specific inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers and establish a stable and accurate intraspecific identification method for Ganoderma lingzhi. A total of 117 G. lingzhi strains were identified using internal transcribed spacer sequences from 147 strains determined as G. lingzhi via simple morphological identification. Based on the sequences obtained, specific ISSR primers for G. lingzhi were screened and validated, and 15 specific ISSR primers showed polymorphic banding pattern with clear band resolution. Subsequently, ISSR PCRs of the 15 specific primers were performed for the 117 G. lingzhi strains. As expected, DNA analysis of the ISSR markers could distinguish G. lingzhi strains, with similarity coefficients ranging from 0.11 to 0.89. Thus, the 15 specific ISSR primers can be used for intraspecific identification and polymorphism analysis of G. lingzhi.