Multiomics Analysis Reveals Coordinated Molecular and Physiological Changes during Light-Induced Primordium Initiation in Lentinula edodes

Light is a key cue for primordium initiation in basidiomycetes, but the downstream molecular coordination remains unclear. Here, we integrated DIA proteomics, untargeted LC-MS/MS metabolomics, enzymatic assays, and multistrain phenotyping to characterize light-associated primordium initiation in Lentinula edodes . Light-exposed primordium-forming tissues showed 1,521 differentially expressed proteins enriched in redox/cofactor metabolism, proteostasis, membrane/lipid remodeling, cell-wall reorganization, and translation. Metabolomics revealed coordinated changes in cofactor biosynthesis, ABC transporters, aminoacyl-tRNA metabolism, and sugar interconversion. Enzymatic assays showed increased NADPH oxidase and pyruvate decarboxylase activities, reduced superoxide dismutase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and Complex V activities, supporting redox remodeling and altered pyruvate-node metabolism while requiring future ROS and flux validation. Across 57 strains, directional illumination confined primordia to illuminated zones, reduced primordium number and total yield, but increased individual fruiting-body weight. These findings support a working “Signal–Supply–Structure” framework for fungal photomorphogenesis and light-regime optimization.