Mycena News the Mycological Society of San Francisco March 2007, Vol
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Speaker for March 20 MSSF Meeting Mycena News The Mycological Society of San Francisco March 2007, vol. 58:03 MycoDigest: Bioluminescent Fungi Brian A. Perry Bioluminescence, the emission of visible light by living organisms, is known to occur in many distantly related phyla, including the fungi. Although written observations of this phenomenon in fungal species are reported to date as far back as Aristotle (384–322 BC) and Pliny the Elder (23–79 AD), and detailed studies have Charmoon Richardson been conducted with many other organisms (i.e., insects, fish, dinoflagellates, bacteria), we know surprisingly little about the nature of the chemical reactions responsible for Wild Culinary Mushrooms of fungal bioluminescence, or even why this phenomenon occurs in fungal species. Northern California Like all other organisms in which it occurs, bioluminescence in fungi is an Charmoon Richardson, owner oxygen-dependent reaction involving substrates generically termed luciferans, which are of Wild About Mushrooms catalyzed by one or more of an assortment of unrelated enzymes referred to as luciferases. Co., has been collecting and In fungi, both the luciferans and luciferases involved remain largely unidentified. During studying wild mushrooms in the luciferan-luciferase reaction, unstable chemical intermediates are produced. As northern California for over 30 these intermediates decompose, excess energy is released as light emission, causing the years. Charmoon teaches classes tissues in which this reaction occurs to glow or luminesce. Although the older literature on mushroom identification, reports some fungal species as producing white or blue light, all recent studies and cooking, and cultivation; is a past observations indicate that bioluminescent fungi emit a greenish light with a maximum president of SOMA (Sonoma around 520–530 nm. For those of County Mycological Association); you who have observed such fungi, organizes weekend mushroom you know the light they emit is camps and other mushroom often quite faint, and typically events; and has led countless requires very dark conditions to numbers of guided mushroom see. I recently locked myself in a walks and forays. He has appeared darkened room with several cultures Continued on page 7 of a bioluminescent species of Mycena, and even in the presence of actively growing mycelium, it required several minutes for my CONTENTS vision to adapt to the dark before I could perceive the faint light these cultures produced. This, however, Omphalotus olivascens: a local bioluminescent Speaker for March 20..........................1 is certainly not always the case. species. Photo courtesy of Mykoweb and Michael Wood MycoDigest: Bioluminescent Fungi ........1 The basidiomes of Poromycena manipularis are reported to be visible from a distance of up to 40 meters, and other President’s Post.......................................2 species have been reported to emit light that is bright enough to read by. Marin Mushroom Mania Recap...............3 Mushroom Expedition to Soquel...........5 Bioluminescence has thus far been reported in approximately 50 species of fungi, all of which are white-spored basidiomycetes traditionally placed in the Marin County Picking Regulations.......7 Continued on page 2 Calendar...............................................8 MycoDigest is a section of Mycena News dedicated to the scientific review of myco- logical information. Page 2 The Mycena News, March 2007 MycoDigest Continued from page 1 THE PRESIDENT’S family Tricholomataceae. Impressively, more than two thirds of these bioluminescent species are members of the diverse and widespread genus Mycena. Additional genera containing POST luminescent species include Armillaria, Omphalotus (including Lampteromyces and luminescent Pleurotus species), Gerronema, This year’s Esteemed Volunteer List has been Panellus, and Dictyopanus (these latter two genera actually compiled and posted on our website, honoring those represent additional species of Mycena, but they have not yet MSSF members who have significantly served the mission been transferred to this genus). Luminescence, the intensity of the MSSF during the past season. The list is primarily level and location of which varies by species, typically occurs in comprised of Council members and Fungus Fair volunteer the mycelium and/or basidiomes, or some portion thereof. In contributors, with a few other notable supporters included. Mycena lamprospora, however, it is the mature spores rather than This list also doubles as the invite list for our annual these tissues that have been observed to luminesce. In many Volunteer Appreciation Day fete, scheduled for April. Please instances it is the hyphae present in decaying plant tissues that review the list at www.mssf.org to verify that your name has luminesces, resulting in the appearance of luminescent wood been included if you feel it should be, and kindly bring any or leaves. perceived omissions to my attention for prompt correction. Here in California, Armillaria mellea, Omphalotus According to the MSSF by-laws, I have appointed olivascens, and Panellus stipticus occur regularly and are likely this year’s nominating committee. Carol Hellums, Ken your best bet for locally observing luminescence. While many Litchfield, and Curt Haney have agreed to handle this critical species of Mycena are present in California, it is primarily the process. They are charged with the task of filling a proposed tropical members of the genus that are luminescent. Studies slate of officers for next year’s leadership, to be presented by Bermudes and colleagues have demonstrated that M. first to Council at the April meeting, then put before MSSF haematopus (a locally abundant temperate species) does emit low membership at the “annual’ general meeting in May. Anyone levels of light, but this is not detectable by the human eye and wishing to volunteer to take a leadership role with our Society was determined with the use of a photometer. The mycelium of should feel free to contact one of the nominating committee several additional temperate Mycena species (e.g. M. epipterygia, members. As things now stand, positions will be opening for M. galopus, M. maculata, M. pura, and M. sanquinolenta) have next year’s President, Vice President, Secretary, and two of also been reported to luminesce in European collections, but the four Councilor positions. Also, we anticipate the need to this condition has not yet been confirmed for North American replace George and Jane Collier as Membership Committee material. The basidiomes of both O. olivascens and P. stipticus Co-Chairs and J.R. Blair as Fungus Fair Committee Chair. are luminescent, while for A. mellea it is only the mycelium (and Thank you George, Jane, and J.R. for your superlative efforts rhizomorphs) that emits light. Due to the high levels of light on our behalf. pollution present in most regions, not to mention the moon, it is often necessary to relocate specimens of these species to Members should always remember that the MSSF is darker locales in order to observe their luminescence. David nothing but the people who step forward to make it happen. Arora recommends locking yourself in a dark closet with fresh If you are not clear on how you can participate in helping specimens, as well as a grilled cheese sandwich to help combat to make your Society ever more pertinent, worthwhile, the boredom while allowing your eyes to adjust to the dark! and evolving, please feel free to contact me or any Council Officer or Committee Chair for suggestions and direction. Our current understanding of the evolutionary relationships of the fungi, based on the phylogenetic analyses We, and that really means you, can always use more help. of the Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life collaboration, suggest that bioluminescence within the basidiomycetes has evolved ~DC independently in at least three distinct lineages. Within the Mycena lineage (i.e. Mycenaceae) which contains the majority The Education Commitee would like to thank of these luminescent species (and likely well over 500 species all those who have contributed educational in total), it remains to be seen whether luminescence evolved a materials. Please continue sending mushroom- single time early in the evolutionary history of this group and realted education aids to [email protected] or was then subsequently lost by numerous species, or whether it evolved numerous times independently as it appears to have [email protected]. Educational materials done in the basidiomycetes as a whole. will be posted on a forthcoming website. Continued on page 4 The Mycena News, March 2007 Page 3 First Annual Marin Mushroom Mania: A Splendid Success! Terri Beausejour The first ever “Marin Mushroom Mania” at the Marin condition. The fungal displays had rested well under their cozy Art and Garden Center began at 9 am, January 26, with four netting, which allowed the fungi to sleep comfortably in a humid Marin forays: Pt. Reyes, Roy’s Redwoods, Indian Tree OSP, environment with sufficient ability to breathe and prepare for and Fairfax Cascades OSP. Although weather conditions had many hundreds of inquisitive, curious, and studying eyeballs to recently transitioned from bitter cold and dry to rainy just be gazing upon them for hours to come…not to mention the the day before, the foray participants arrived with plentiful occasional fondling thereof…. baskets, boxes, and bags containing a surprisingly wide variety of species. Fred Stevens, Peter Werner, J.R. Blair, David