Novel strain development for the mycoprotein fungus Fusarium venenatum

There is now commercial and environmental interest in obtaining novel strains with improved characteristics for mycoprotein production.
We plan to use leading genomic, molecular biology, biochemical and classical culturing techniques to explore strain improvement in F. venenatum. A genome sequence of A3/5 is already available to facilitate investigations.
(1) Sexual biology of F. venenatum. The species is only known to reproduce asexually, which has impeded strain improvement. However, we have recently developed a molecular sex-test diagnostic, which has identified F. venenatum isolates of different MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 mating type needed for sexual reproduction. We plan to screen isolates by qRT-PCR for expression of genes required for sexual development and then mate chosen isolates under conditions favourable for sexual reproduction, using a range of microscopy to monitor development. If sex can be induced, there is the exciting prospect that strains with desirable characteristics (e.g. higher growth rate and vitamin content, absence of mycotoxins) can be crossed and offspring identified with combinations of favourable traits; the sexual cycle may also generate completely novel, favourable genotypes.
(2) Manipulation of F. venenatum - classical genetics. We will generate diploid strains to see if more stable production strains with less branching can be obtained, drawing on cutting-edge microscopy and proteomic methods developed at Marlow Foods to monitor hyphal branching and protein composition. We will also develop parasexual crossing to generate novel combinations of traits in haploid strains.
(3) Manipulation of F. venenatum - genome editing. GM and CRISPR genome-editing tools will be used to try and alter traits of interest e.g. mycotoxin synthesis and vitamin production. Electronic nose GC-MS will be used to identify undesirable flavour volatiles that also might be removed.