Roridomyces Phyllostachydis - Bioluminescent Variety of Mushroom was Discovered

 The mushroom documentation project in the forests of northeast India led to a discovery: a bioluminescent (luminescent) mushroom. It is now one of 97 known bioluminescent fungi in the world.

Highlights:

♦ In August, a new species was discovered for the first time in Mawlynnong in Meghalaya State in the East Kashi Hills region, named Roridomyces phyllostachydis, and then discovered in Krang Shuri in the West Jaintia Hills region.

♦ The new species is very important because it is the first mushroom in the genus Roridomyces in India.

♦ It is the only member of the genus that emits light from its stalk or stalk. Bioluminescence is the property of living organisms to produce and emit light. Animals, plants, fungi and bacteria show bioluminescence.

♦ Bioluminescent organisms usually exist in the marine environment, but also exist in the terrestrial environment.

♦ The colour of the light emitted by organisms depends on its chemical properties. In the case of fungi, the luminescence comes from the enzyme luciferase.