The land of northeastern India is a treasure of diverse flora and fauna. And some scientists have discovered a new variety of mushrooms here, they are so special because they are no ordinary mushrooms, but Bioluminescent, they emit bright green light in the darkness. It was first sighted in August near a stream in Meghalaya's Mawlynnong in East Khasi district and later at Krang Shuri in west Jaintia district. This unusual new fungus is now among 97 species of bioluminescent mushrooms in the world.

This amazing fungus was found after the local Khasi people reported of glowing mushrooms, and a team of scientists of Balipara Foundation, India and Kunming Institute of Botany, China headed to West Jaintia Hills district in Meghalaya. This team also researched the northeast to evaluate fungal biodiversity of the region. The result of their research was published in the journal Phytotaxa under the title Roridomyces Phyllostachydis, new bioluminescent fungi from northeast India. Characteristics of Morphological and phylogenetic analysis showcased that the bioluminescent fungi belong to the Genus Roridomyces and is a new species in science. It is similarly the first report of Roridomyces in India.

During the research, Balipara Foundation documented over 600 fungal varieties with 34 species of fungi that are possibly new to science, including the electric bright mushrooms, which is quite breathtaking for many researchers. According to their reports, 97 species of bioluminescent fungi are known worldwide. Due to its wide application in medicine, agriculture and ecological environment sensors, bioluminescent fungi species have always received great attention worldwide. The research team was guided by a local person to a bamboo forest, who asked them to switch off their torches. In the middle of the darkness, an amazing green glow emerged from dead bamboo sticks that were strangled in tiny mushrooms. These mushrooms emit its light in the phenomenon known as “Bioluminescence”.

Bioluminescence is an aspect of a living organism to produce and emit light. Some animals, plants, fungi and bacteria consist bioluminescence. These organisms are mostly found in ocean environments, but some of them are similarly found in terrestrial environments. The colour of the light emitted by the organisms depends on their chemical properties. In the case of this fungi, the luminescence comes from the enzyme, luciferase. The green light emits when this Luciferians is catalysed by the enzyme luciferase, in the presence of oxygen. During this chemical reaction, several unstable intermediate products are released as excess energy that makes them visible as light. And it can be a similar mechanism for the organisms to protect itself from frugivorous or fruit-eating animals.

This amazing research and expedition were assisted by internationally acclaimed fungi photographer Steve Axford and videographer Catherine Marcinak. This newfound species of illuminating mushrooms have increased the diversity of flora and fauna in the northeastern region of Meghalaya, and it has become one of the most significant discoveries of fungi in the entire world.

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Reference:

• www.biotaxa.org
• www.baliparafoundation.com
• www.english.kib.cas.cn
• www.indianexpress.com
• www.india.mongabay.com