Research Article

Bioluminescence characteristics of a tropical terrestrial fungus (Basidiomycetes)

  1. Dimitri D. Deheyn*,
  2. Michael I. Latz

Article first published online: 4 JUL 2007

DOI: 10.1002/bio.985

Issue

Luminescence

Luminescence

Volume 22, Issue 5, pages 462–467, September/October 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Deheyn, D. D. and Latz, M. I. (2007), Bioluminescence characteristics of a tropical terrestrial fungus (Basidiomycetes). Luminescence, 22: 462–467. doi: 10.1002/bio.985

Author Information

  1. Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0202, USA

*Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0202, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 26 SEP 2007
  2. Article first published online: 4 JUL 2007
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 23 APR 2007
  4. Manuscript Revised: 24 JAN 2007
  5. Manuscript Received: 1 AUG 2006

Funded by

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research, USA. Grant Number: FA9550-04-1-0164
  • STRI, USA; Air Force Research Laboratory, USA. Grant Number: AFOSR-FA9550-04-1-0164
  • Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, USA

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Keywords:

  • terrestrial fungus;
  • firefox;
  • glow wood;
  • bioluminescence;
  • ecological function

Abstract

Freshly collected samples of luminous mycelium of a terrestrial fungus from Panama were investigated for their bioluminescence characteristics. Taxonomic identification of fungal species could not be determined because of the lack of fruiting bodies. Fluorescence excited by 380 nm illumination had an emission spectrum with a main peak at 480 nm and additional chlorophyll peaks related to the wood substrate. Bioluminescence appeared as a continuous glow that did not show any diel variation. The light production was sensitive to temperature and decreased with temperatures higher or lower than ambient. Bioluminescence intensity was sensitive to hydration, increasing by a factor of 400 immediately after exposure to water and increasing by a factor of 1 million after several hours. This increase may have occurred through dilution of superoxide dismutase, which is a suppressive factor of bioluminescence in fungus tissue. The mycelium typically transports nutritive substances back to the fruiting body. The function of luminescent mycelium may be to increase the intensity of light from the fungus and more effectively attract nocturnal insects and other animals that serve as disseminating vectors for fungal spores. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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