This document summarizes bioluminescence in fungi. It defines bioluminescence as the production and emission of light from living organisms through chemical reactions. Early scientists observed glowing mushrooms but thought the light came from insects. Later, it was established that the light comes from chemical reactions involving luciferase enzymes, luciferin substrates, ATP, oxygen, and photons. Major fungal families exhibiting bioluminescence are Basidiomycetes, with some bioluminescent genera being Pleurotus and Mycena.

1. Bioluminescence in Fungi
By
Hem Chander
Assistant Professor (Botany)
Career Point University Hamirpur (HP) 176041
hemchander78@gmail.com

3. What is Bioluminescence?
• Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light
from a living organism.
•The term bioluminescence originated from the Greek bios
meaning “living” and the Latin lumen meaning “light”.
•The emission of light is produced by chemical reactions
within the organism.These reactions can occur internal and
external to the cell.
• Bioluminescence is not the same as fluorescence as it is the
direct production of light where fluorescence is light
absorbed, then re-emitted.

4. • One of the features of biological light that distinguishes it from other
forms of light is that it is cold light.
• Unlike the light of a candle, a lightbulb, bioluminescent light is
produced with very little heat radiation. This aspect of
bioluminescence especially interested early scientists who explored it.
• The light is the result of a biochemical reaction in which there is
oxidation of a compound called “Luciferin” and this reaction is
oxidation of a compound called “Luciferin” and this reaction is
catalyzed by an enzyme called “Luciferase”.
• The light generated by this biochemical reaction has been utilized by
scientists as a bio-indicator for Tuberculosis as well as heavy metals.
• Ongoing research involving bioluminescence is currently underway in
the areas of evolution, ecology, histology, physiology, biochemistry,
and biomedical applications.

5. History of Bioluminescent Fungi
• The light of luminous wood was first noted in the early writings
of Aristotle which occurred in 382 B.C.
• The next mention of luminous wood in the literature occurred in
1667 by Robert Boyle who noticed glowing earth and noted that
heat was absent from the light.
• Many early scientists such as Conrad Gesner, Francis Bacon, and
• Many early scientists such as Conrad Gesner, Francis Bacon, and
Thomas Bartholin all observed and made notations of luminous
earth.
• These early observers thought that the light was due to small
insects or animal interactions.
• Bioluminescent fungi emit a greenish light at a wavelength of
520–530 nm

6. • Fabre (1952) established the basic parameters of bioluminescent fungi,
those being:
 The light without heat
 The light ceased in a vacuum, in hydrogen, and carbon dioxide
 The light was independent of humidity, temperature, light, and did
not burn any brighter in pure oxygen
• The work by Herring (1978) found that the luminescent parts of the
• The work by Herring (1978) found that the luminescent parts of the
included pileus(cap), hymenium(gills) and the mycelial threads in
combination or separately also the individual spores were also seen to be
luminescent.
• Herring also stated that if the fruiting body (mushroom) was
bioluminescent then the mycelial threads were always luminescent as well
but not vice versa.

7. The Process of Bioluminescence
This can be described as a chemiluminescent reaction which involves a direct conversion
of chemical energy transformed to light energy. The reaction involves the following
elements:
Enzymes (Luciferase) – biological catalysts that accelerate and control the rate of chemical
reactions in cells.
Photons – packs of light energy.
ATP – adenosine triphosphate, the energy storing molecule of all living organisms.
ATP – adenosine triphosphate, the energy storing molecule of all living organisms.
Substrate (Luciferin) – a specific molecule that undergoes a chemical charge when affixed
by an enzyme.
Oxygen – as an oxidizer
A simplified formula of the bioluminescent reaction:
ATP(energy) + Luciferin (substrate)+ Luciferase (enzyme) + O2 (oxidizer) = Oxyluciferin + Light (photons)

8. Fungal Families Exhibiting Bioluminescence
Majority of bioluminescence occurs in the Basidiomycetes and
only one observation has been made involving the Ascomycetes;
specifically in the Ascomycete genus Xylaria.
At present, there are 42 confirmed bioluminescent
Basidiomycetes that occur worldwide and share no resemblance
Basidiomycetes that occur worldwide and share no resemblance
to each other visually, other than the ability to be
bioluminescent.
The two main genera that display bioluminescence are the genus
Pleurotus and Mycena.

9. Panellus stipticus

10. Omphalotus nidiformis

11. Mycena chlorophos

12. Omphalotus olearius