Biodiversity and biology of bioluminescent fungi
2011
Chew, Audrey Li Chin | Tan, Yee Shin | Md Yusoff Musa | Desjardin, Dennis E. | Vikineswary Sabaratnam
The diversity of luminescent fungi in Malaysia is poorly known as little research has been conducted. Thus far, there are 71 species of fungi recognised to be luminescent, all Basidiomycetes and belonging to three distinct lineages; Mycenaceae, Omphalotaceae and Physalacriaceae. In this study, luminescent mushrooms were collected from forests in various states in Peninsular Malaysia including Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan and Perak. A total of 56 luminescent mushroom specimens were collected between January 2010 and August 2011 and macromorphological descriptions were made of each specimen. Limitations in specimen discovery and collection were due to seasonal fruiting, short lifespan, solitary fruiting bodies as well as inability to spot luminescence in daylight. Luminescent mushrooms were found on moist, rotting wood, bamboo and palm as well as on moist soil. Tissue culture and spore drop techniques were used in attempt to culture the specimens and 38 axenic cultures were successfully established. The large subunit (LSU) gene region was amplified and sequenced for subsequent molecular analysis. The phylogenetic tree constructed with successful LSU sequences showed that specimens with higher similarities in terms of morphology and habitat have higher homology. Data collection for this study is still on-going to correctly assign the specimens to the right genus as well as to identify them to the species level.
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