The First Whole Genome Sequencing of Provides Insights into Its Medicinal Application and Evolution.

is a medicinal macrofungal genus typified by , the very species utilized in traditional Chinese medicines by Chinese ancient people. To facilitate the medicinal application of , we, for the first time, perform its genome sequencing and analyses from a monokaryon strain. A 33.34 Mb genome sequence was assembled to 26 contigs, which lead to the prediction of 8278 protein-coding genes. From these genes, the potential biosynthesis pathway of sesquiterpenoids was, for the first time, identified from , besides that of triterpenoids. While polysaccharides are the main medicinal metabolites in , flavonoids are especially abundant medicinal metabolites comparing with other medicinal macrofungal groups. From the genomic perspective, has a tetrapolar heterothallic mating system, and has its special nutritional strategy and advantageous medicinal properties compared with and . A phylogenomics analysis indicates that emerged 15.39 million years ago and has a closer phylogenetic relationship with than . However, shares a higher region of synteny and more orthologous genes, including carbohydrate-active enzymes with than . A comparative genomics analysis with and indicates that species diversification within may be driven by the translocation and translocation plus inversion of genome sequences, while the expansion and contraction of gene families may contribute to the host specificity of species. In general, the genome sequence of provides insights into its medicinal application and evolution.