Abstract: This study aimed to identify high-quality Morchella strains with strong biological activity and stable fruiting characteristics. We employed single-gene and multi-gene identification techniques for molecular biological identification of six wild strains of Morchella and evaluated their functional traits by measuring various enzyme activities. The activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were assayed in liquid-cultured mycelia, and a quantitative assessment of these indicators was performed using the subordinate function method. As a result, we successfully identified an excellent strain suitable for artificial cultivation. Molecular identification confirmed that all six wild Morchella strains belonged to Morchella sextelata, under the Elata Clade group. Morphological observation revealed that the mycelia gradually changed from white to pale yellow, exhibiting dense arrangements with blunt ends and uneven diameters and showing localized spherical distribution characteristics, with a daily growth rate of 0.40–0.45 mm. Mating-type gene analysis indicated that strains LM1, LM3, and LM4 carried both MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 genes, suggesting potential for sexual reproduction. Compared with the two other strains, LM4 exhibited significantly higher PPO, POD, CAT, and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) dehydrogenase activities and lower MDA content. The average subordinate function value of LM4 was the highest (0.964 7), highlighting its excellent biological activity and suitability for artificial cultivation. This study provides a novel approach for precise identification and efficient breeding of Morchella germplasm resources.

Key words: Morchella esculenta; strain identification; mating-type genes; biomass; antioxidant enzyme activity