John Miller
Mushrooms that glow in the dark, or bioluminescent mushrooms, are a fascinating phenomenon. While there are about 100,000 species of fungi, only around 70-80 of them are known to be bioluminescent. These mushrooms emit light through a chemical reaction involving luciferase and oxygen, similar to the process that makes fireflies glow. Bioluminescent mushrooms are mostly found in subtropical and tropical regions, with Brazil's Atlantic Forest boasting the world's highest concentration of glowing mushrooms. The light produced by these fungi serves a purpose—it attracts insects that help spread their spores, aiding in reproduction and colonization. Hunting for these glowing mushrooms in the woods can be a fun and spooky activity, but it's important to remember that not all bioluminescent mushrooms are edible, and some can be poisonous.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of glow-in-the-dark mushroom species | Over 70, with some sources stating 71, 100, or 125 |
| Scientific name of light-emitting molecules | Luciferin or oxyluciferin |
| Name of interacting enzymes | Luciferase |
| Other requirements for light emission | Water, oxygen |
| Purpose of light emission | Attract insects to spread spores |
| Mushroom examples | Jack-o'-lantern, Panellus stipticus, Mycena luxaeterna, Omphalotus nidiformis, Mycena haematopus, Filoboletus manipularis |
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What You'll Learn
More than 70 species of mushrooms can glow in the dark
Mushrooms are already fascinating organisms, but some species take it a step further by glowing in the dark. This phenomenon, known as bioluminescence, occurs in more than 70 species of mushrooms, transforming these otherwise plain organisms into wondrous sights.
Bioluminescence in mushrooms is due to a chemical reaction involving luciferase and oxygen, similar to the process that makes fireflies glow. The light-emitting molecules, called luciferins, react with oxygen and enzymes to produce a bluish-green light. This mechanism is identical across all bioluminescent fungal species, and scientists currently know of around 100 mushroom species with this ability.
The jack-o'-lantern mushroom (Omphalotus illudens) is a well-known example of a bioluminescent mushroom. It gets its name from its bright orange colour and nighttime glow, resembling the festive lanterns. However, it is important to note that this mushroom is poisonous, so it should not be mistaken for its edible look-alikes.
Another fascinating bioluminescent mushroom is the eternal light mushroom (Mycena luxaeterna). This rare species is currently only known to exist in a limited region of the Atlantic Coastal Forest of São Paulo, Brazil. The mushroom's long and spindly stipe, or stem, is the part that emits a signature eerie green glow in the dark, making it stand out from its typical cap.
The ghost mushroom (Omphalotus nidiformis) is another well-known luminescent species native to Australia and Tasmania. The gills of this mushroom emit a faint blue-green light, creating a wonderfully eerie, ghost-like effect in the dark.
While the exact reason for the evolution of bioluminescence in mushrooms is uncertain, one hypothesis suggests that the glow attracts insects, aiding in spore dispersal. Scientists tested this idea by conducting experiments with synthetic mushrooms equipped with green LED lights, which supported the hypothesis that bioluminescence plays a role in mushroom-insect interactions.
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They produce light through a chemical reaction
More than 70 species of mushrooms can glow in the dark due to a chemical reaction. This chemical reaction involves luciferase, luciferin, and oxygen—the same light-producing substances present in other luminescent creatures and plants. The light-emitting molecules are called luciferins, and the enzymes that interact with them are called luciferases. Luciferin comes from the Latin root for "light-bearing".
In a process identical across all bioluminescent fungal species, luciferins react with oxygen and enzymes under certain conditions to produce a bluish-green light. This chemical reaction is an oxygen-dependent metabolic process and may provide antioxidant protection against the potentially damaging effects of reactive oxygen species produced during wood decay.
Bioluminescence in mushrooms is a result of an enzymatic mechanism shared by all bioluminescent fungi, suggesting that bioluminescence arose early in the evolution of the mushroom-forming Agaricales. This mechanism involves an enzyme interacting with a light-emitting compound with the help of additional enzymes, water, and oxygen.
The bioluminescence of mushrooms is believed to serve a purpose. Mushrooms may produce light to attract insects, which then pick up fungal spores and disperse them as they fly. This hypothesis is supported by experiments where synthetic mushrooms equipped with green LEDs attracted more beetles, bugs, flies, wasps, and ants than dark versions.
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Bioluminescence in mushrooms is a spore-dispersal strategy
More than 70 species of mushrooms are known to glow in the dark due to a chemical reaction involving luciferase and oxygen, similar to the reaction that makes fireflies glow. This phenomenon, called bioluminescence, has been observed in fungi since ancient times, with Aristotle documenting its existence as early as 384-322 BC.
Bioluminescence in mushrooms is believed to be a spore-dispersal strategy. This hypothesis is supported by experimental work with acrylic models of the Neotropical Neonothopanus garderni, which found that significantly more insects were attracted to the models when they were lit up. This finding suggests that the light emitted by bioluminescent mushrooms may attract insects that can help spread their spores.
However, the role of bioluminescence in spore dispersal may vary among different types of mushrooms and environmental conditions. For example, the ghost fungus Omphalotus nidiformis, a widespread Australian temperate zone species, does not appear to attract potential spore-dispersing insects, despite its continuous day and night glow. Researchers have suggested that the function of bioluminescence in this species may be incidental to its metabolism rather than conferring any selective advantage.
The ecological importance and underlying mechanisms of bioluminescence in mushrooms continue to be a subject of exploration and debate among researchers. While some studies have found evidence that bioluminescent mushrooms attract potential spore-dispersing insects, others propose alternative hypotheses for the function of bioluminescence, including deterring negative phototrophic fungivores, attracting fungivore predators, and signalling.
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Glow-in-the-dark mushrooms are found in Brazil's Atlantic Forest
Glow-in-the-dark mushrooms, or bioluminescent mushrooms, are a fascinating and bizarre occurrence in nature. Of the 100,000 known species of fungi, only about 80 exhibit bioluminescence, and they can be found in various forests across the globe, including in the Americas, Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, and South Africa. One of the most notable places to find these glowing mushrooms is in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, where the world's highest concentration of these fungi can be found.
The Atlantic Forest once spanned 330 million acres across Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay. Today, only fragments of the forest remain in Brazil, with the largest intact area being the Ribeira Valley in the state of São Paulo. It is here, in the Legado das Águas (the largest private reserve in Brazil), that visitors can find an abundance of bioluminescent mushrooms. The University of São Paulo associate professor Cassius Stevani leads nighttime tours through the IPBio Betary Reserve, a 148-acre stretch of rainforest dedicated to conservation, research, and sustainability.
The mushrooms found in the Atlantic Forest include the Mycena luxaeterna, also known as the eternal light mushroom, which has thin, hollow, gel-covered stems that emit a signature eerie green glow in the darkness. Another species found in the Atlantic Forest is the Mycena lucentipes, which appear ordinary during the day but emit a luminous neon-green glow at night, flourishing in the humidity on tree trunks and fallen branches. The Brazilian fungus Neonthopanus gardneri, or flor de coco, is also found in the Atlantic Forest, resembling a large, radioactive flower with its bright orange colour and bioluminescence.
The bioluminescence of these mushrooms is due to a chemical reaction involving luciferin (or oxyluciferin) and luciferase molecules, along with oxygen. This is similar to the biochemical process that gives fireflies their glow. While fireflies use their light to attract mates, mushrooms use it to attract insects that will help spread their spores. This hypothesis was supported by Dunlap, who found that acrylic model mushrooms lit from within by LEDs attracted significantly more insects than dark models.
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The Jack-o'-Lantern mushroom is poisonous
Jack-o'-Lantern mushrooms are bright orange to yellowish-orange in colour, with caps that are initially convex but become flat to funnel-shaped and sunken in the centre. The gills are narrow, sharp-edged, crowded, and non-branching, and they descend the stalk. The stalk is curved, tapering towards the base, and is the same colour as the cap but darkens towards the base. The spore print is cream, and when magnified, the spores are round, smooth, and colourless.
The Jack-o'-Lantern mushroom is bioluminescent, emitting a faint greenish glow from its gills in low light conditions. This is due to the presence of the enzyme luciferase, which acts upon a compound called luciferin, resulting in the emission of light similar to that produced by fireflies. However, unlike fireflies, the purpose of bioluminescence in Jack-o'-Lantern mushrooms is not to attract mates but rather to attract insects that help spread their spores.
While poisoning from Jack-o'-Lantern mushrooms is not life-threatening to healthy adults, it can cause mild to severe stomach upset and illness that may last for several days. Therefore, it is essential to correctly identify mushrooms before consuming them and to exercise caution when eating wild mushrooms.
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Frequently asked questions
There are over 70 species of glow-in-the-dark mushrooms, also known as bioluminescent mushrooms.
Glow-in-the-dark mushrooms are found in subtropical and tropical regions, though there are some temperate examples as well.
Researchers believe that the biological light emission in mushrooms serves to attract insects, which will then pick up and disperse the fungal spores as they fly.
The light emitted by bioluminescent mushrooms is typically blue-green or yellow-green.
Some examples of glow-in-the-dark mushrooms include the jack-o'-lantern, the lilac bonnet, the eternal light mushroom, and the luminous porecap.
