ABSTRACT
A pure culture of Panellus stypticus was isolated from a mature basidiocarp and studied for its growth and luminescence abilities under various environmental and nutritional conditions. The culture was non-luminous growing submerged in defined liquid media with or without agitation. After a two- to three-day lag period on solid substrata, luminescence increased exponentially with a doubling time of 4 hours while the increase in colony radial growth was linear. On solid substrata, growth and total light emission were strongly correlated under most conditions studied. Optimal conditions included darkness; 28 C; pH 3.8; glucose, maltose, trehalose, cellobiose or pectin as carbon source; and ammonia or asparagine as nitrogen source. Growth and luminescence were inhibited by ambient fluorescent light. Dark-grown colonies were brightest in the center while light-grown colonies were brightest at the periphery. Cultures hydrolyzed starch and produced an extracellular phenoloxidase. Conditions for production of luminescent basidiocarps by this culture are described.