Capturing the enchanting glow: first-ever photographs of bioluminescent mushroom Mycena chlorophos in Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Mushrooms, classified within the class Agaricomycetes in the fungal kingdom, are often colloquially referred to as toadstools. The bioluminescence exhibited by fungi has captivated human curiosity for an extensive period, arising from a chemical reaction involving the interaction of the enzyme luciferin. In India , research pertaining to bioluminescent fungi remains notably limited. This study reports a novel distribution record of Mycena chlorophos in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India.