Fungal Bioluminescence: Past, Present, and Future
The complex and diverse phenomenon of fungal bioluminescence has captured human curiosity. Nevertheless, in the field of studies, there are not many attempts made particularly to reveal the new species of these interesting fungi. This study comprehensively reviews the diversity, distribution, evolution, bioluminescence mechanisms, ecological roles, and potential applications of these fungi. Most importantly, we also present an updated list of the reported bioluminescent fungi (122) so far identified from five distinct evolutionary lineages worldwide—Armillaria, Eoscyphella, Lucentipes, Mycenoid, and Omphalotus—mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. Bioluminescent fungi are descended from the last common ancestor of the Mycenoid and the Marasmioid clades of Agaricales, which have been maintained for at least 160 million years of evolution. We underscore the potential for future research to understand the ecological role of bioluminescent fungi, inspiring hope and optimism for the future of this field.
Authors
- Bhagya M. Premarathne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3201-2765)
- Mahesh C. A. Galappaththi
- Nimesha M. Patabendige (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8290-4681)
- Saowaluck Tibpromma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4706-6547)
- Dong-Qin Dai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8935-8807)
- Saisamorn Lumyong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6485-414X)
- Thilina S. Nimalrathna (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2368-042X)
- Alvin M. C. Tang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5055-5221)
- Aseni Ediriweera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5876-7615)
- Nakarin Suwannarach (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2653-1913)
- Alviti Kankanamalage Hasith Priyashantha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4809-2605)
- Samantha C. Karunarathna (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7080-0781)
- Shi-Cheng Shao
- Dinesh M. Kulasuriya
- Wenhua Lu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7283-7596)
Institutions
- University of Peradeniya (LK)
- Kunming Institute of Botany (CN)
- Hong Kong Baptist University (HK)
- Murdoch University (AU)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (CN)
- National Institute of Fundamental Studies (LK)
- Qujing Normal University (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Chiang Mai University (TH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Diversity
- Published
- 2024-09-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/d16090539
- Citations
- 7
- Primary Topic
- bioluminescence and chemiluminescence research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.64
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Chiang Mai University