Meghalaya’s glowing mushrooms

Context: A mushroom documentation project in the forests of Northeast India has revealed not only 600 varieties of fungi, but also led to a new discovery: a bioluminescent — or light emitting — variety of mushroom.

Roridomyces phyllostachydis

• The new species — named Roridomyces phyllostachydis — was first sighted on a wet August night near a stream in Meghalaya’s Mawlynnong in East Khasi Hills district and later at Krang Shuri in West Jaintia Hills
• It is now one among the 97 known species of bioluminescent fungi in the world.

What are bioluminescent fungi and why do they glow?

• Bioluminescence is the property of a living organism to produce and emit light.
• “Animals, plants, fungi and bacteria show bioluminescence,”.
• “Bioluminescent organisms are usually found in the ocean environments, but they are also found on terrestrial environments.
• The colour of the light emitted by the organism depends on their chemical properties.”
• In the case of fungi, the luminescence comes from the enzyme, luciferase.
• Bioluminescence attracts insects, which helps in dispersing spores,”.

• It may also be a mechanism for the organism to protect itself from frugivorous (or fruit-eating) animals.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/mystery-of-meghalayas-glowing-green-mushrooms-7059942/