Transcriptome analysis reveals the potential mechanism of polyethylene packing delaying lignification of Pleurotus eryngii

•Transcriptomics analysis of polyethylene (PE) on lignification of P. eryngii.•Differentially expressed genes are enriched in process of lignin decomposition.•PE delayed lignification by regulation of gene related to lignin metabolism.•Visualization of lignin changes in P. eryngii by confocal Raman microspectroscopy.