Abstract:[Background] Lentinula edodes partitivirus 1 (LePV1) is a major mycovirus identified in L. edodes germplasm. Previous to this study, LePV1 isolates from the Chinese genetically-diverse L. edodes core collection were grouped into two distinct clades (subtype I and subtype II), with the majority in subtype I; The same LePV1 molecular isolate was found in L. edodes strains that were genetic-diverse and geographically far away. [Objective] To identify the effect of virus-transmission via basidiospore on the population of Lentinula edodes partitivirus 1. [Methods] We compared the virus-carrying rate of basidiospores between subtype I and subtype II, and analyzed the effect of hybridization (Mon-Mon and Di-Mon) on the population of LePV1. [Results] The virus-carrying rates of basidiospores was 70% in ZP51 and 100% in YS94 in subtype I, while it was 45% in ZP28 and 55% in YS5 in subtype II. Virus-transmission efficiency of basidiospore from strains in subtype I was higher than that of basidiospores from strains in subtype II. If one of the parental basidiospores carries LePV1, the obtained hybrid will carry LePV1 either in Mon-Mon crossing test or Di-Mon crossing test. [Conclusion] The different virus-transmission efficiency of basidiospore from strains in different subtypes, and plasmogamy duringhy bridization maybe play an important role in the formation of the population of LePV1. In addition, LePV1 was not spread from spores that carried virus to its incompatible monokaryons or dikaryons in Mon-Mon crossing test or Di-Mon crossing test. Additionally, the obtained hybrids could transmit LePV1 to the paring heterokaryons in the successful Di-Mon crossing test. This research presented here firstly provide experimental evidence and clues for us understanding the transmission characteristics and population formation of LePV1.