Journal of Threatened Taxa |
www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 March 2023 | 15(3): 22924–22926
ISSN 0974-7907
(Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8109.15.3.22924-22926
#8109 | Received 20
July 2022 | Final received 19 September 2022 | Finally accepted 28 February
2023
Photographic evidence of
bioluminescent mushroom Mycena chlorophos (Mycenaceae) from
Goa, India
Swanand R. Patil
1, Mirjoy M. Mathew 2, Abhijeet
V. Patil 3, Ramesh N. Zarmekar
4, Pankaj R. Lad 5 &
Grenville Dcosta 6
1 Arcane Conservancy
(www.arcaneconservancy.org), A/207 Saikrupa BS Road,
Dadar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400028, India.
2,3,4,6 Nature’s Nest Resort
(www.naturesnestgoa.com), North Goa Surla, Sancordem, Goa 403406, India.
5 North Goa Surla,
Sancordem, Goa 403406, India.
1 swanandpatil6@gmail.com
(corresponding author), 2 mathewmirjoy@gmail.com, 3 abhijeetpatil8427@gmail.com, 4 coralsnake82@gmail.com,
5 pankajrlad@gmail.com, 6 gren.dcosta@gmail.com
Editor: Anonymity requested. Date of publication: 26 March 2023 (online &
print)
Citation: Patil, S.R., M.M. Mathew,
A.V. Patil, R.N. Zarmekar,
P.R. Lad & G. Dcosta (2023). Photographic evidence of
bioluminescent mushroom Mycena chlorophos (Mycenaceae) from
Goa, India. Journal of
Threatened Taxa 15(3):
22924–22926. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8109.15.3.22924-22926
Copyright: © Patil et al. 2023. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and
distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the
author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: Nature’s Nest Resort, Goa.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: We thank Dr.
Mandar Datar, Dr. Belle Damodara Shenoy and Dr. Varsha Nimbalkar for
providing important reviews for the study.
The first recorded scientific
description of the Mycena chlorophos Miles Joseph Berkeley & Moses Ashley
Curtis in 1860 occurred in the year Berkeley & Curtis 1860. The mushrooms
grows in subtropical regions of Asia, especially Western Ghats in India, Sri Lanka,
Indonesia, and even recorded in Japan.
The mushroom contains an enzyme
called as luciferase, causing substrate luciferin which catalyzes in presence
of oxygen. During this chemical reaction, excess energy is released, which is
visible as light/ luminescence (Kaskova et al. 2017; Patil & Yadav 2022). This light is visible to naked eye
in complete darkness in the form of pale green light. Studies suggest (Fleiss
& Sarkisyan 2019; Patil & Yadav 2022) that
luminescent nature of the mushroom is for spore dispersal by attracting
insects.
The present scientific study is
the first of its kind to provide photographic evidence of Mycena
chlorophos, a bioluminescent mushroom from Goa,
the only previously known record of the same is from a newspaper article, reporting
its presence in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in North
Goa (Times of India travel 2019). The fungus was identified based on the
current literature available (Kushwaha & Hajirnis
2016).
On foot surveys were conducted
during June 2022, as it was observed that the glowing mushroom grows during
initial stages of monsoon. The surveys were conducted in the buffer area of Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary (15.390 N 74.226 E)
where the mycelium was observed during the monsoons. The area has a scant
canopy, compared to the protected zone as it is open for wood logging and sand
mining. As we are looking to enrich the habitat, this proved to be a trigger
point for the study.
The surveys were divided into two
stages: Stage 1—preliminary surveys, where the team recorded the presence of
bioluminescence on decomposing wood. After narrowing down the potential sites,
stage 2 was initiated. Stage 2—a focused search was carried out to identify and
establish the presence of bioluminescent mushrooms. Wherever the bioluminescent
mushroom was observed, photographs with GPS co-ordinates were taken. A total of
658 grids of 10 × 10m were placed using google earth and ArcGIS were placed.
The team kept regular records and
certain observations were made.
In the presence of an external
light source (day light or torch) the mushrooms appear as brownish- white in
color.
The bioluminescence is present
for up to four days from the time of first appearance of the fruiting bodies.
In areas with denser canopy cover
and high humidity, the intensity of the glow is higher.
During the nocturnal surveys, it
was observed that the mushrooms released spores in air and wind appears to the
primary dispersal agent.
The mushroom appear in groups of
- individuals. The furiting body or cap is conical at
early stages and as it gets matured flatens out.
Hymenium has gills.
The bioluminescent fungus was
observed growing on dead and decaying wooden logs, branches and even twigs.
This is the first photographic record of the fruiting bodies of the species in
the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, Goa, India.
The frequency of occurrence of
glowing mushrooms is about 1.97% within the study area. The functions of these bioluminescent
mushrooms are still unknown. Further study needs to be conducted to identify the
microclimatic conditions essential for the growth of the species.
For images
- - click here for full PDF
References
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