• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.381-388
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• 2020

Bioluminescence refers to the production and emission of light in living organisms. This phenomenon arises from luciferase-catalyzed oxidation reaction of luciferin. Bioluminescence is widely observed in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some microorganisms and fungi. To date, approximately 80 species of fungi have been reported to be luminous. One such example is Omphalotus japonicus, which is a luminous fungus found in Korea. In this study, we examined the bioluminescence of Omphalotus japonicus mycelia. Light emission was detected at the edges of mycelia grown on solid agar medium. Notably, the intensity of bioluminescence was found to be significantly enhanced following wound induction. The increase in light intensity peaked at 3 h after mechanical damage. We also investigated the effects of extreme temperatures on bioluminescence. Unlike mechanical damage, high and low temperatures repressed the light emission from mycelia. Further investigations are required to reveal the physiological and ecological properties of fungal bioluminescent responses to environmental stresses.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.80-82
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• 2010

Omphalotus japonicus is known to as a poisonous mushroom in East Asia, but Illudin S, bioluminescent compound, has been recently reported for an anticancer effect. The fungus is quite rare in natural condition in Korea. Therefore, we tried to cultivate in the mushroom on the sawdust cultivation to provide sufficient amount of mushroom for pharmaceutical study for the future. The mushroom could be harvested from all sawdust media used in this study, and the sawdust of Pinus densiflora was considered to be the best for mushroom cultivation with considering mushroom productivity and cultivation period. The mushroom was produced 43~80 g fresh weight per 600 g sawdust medium in average, and could be harvested one to three times during cultivation period.