Turning mushrooms into gold? Goa researchers claim breakthrough in producing nanoparticles

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Nanotechnology

Context:

Two researchers in Goa have said that they synthesize gold nanoparticles from a wild mushroom species that is widely eaten as a delicacy in the coastal state.

More on news:

The research, titled ‘Biosynthesis and characterisation of AuNPs produced using Termitomycesheimii Pellets’ was published recently in the Geomicrobiology Journal published by Taylor and Francis.
According to the new research, this species of mushroom has been cultured in a pure three-dimensional pelletised form and successfully used to produce gold nanoparticles.
Goa has the largest species diversity and gene pool of the wild edible Termitomyces mushrooms.

About the Termitomyces species:

The Termitomyces species, which grows on termite hills and is locally known as ‘roenolmi’, has been cultured in a pure three-dimensional pelletised form and successfully used to produce gold nanoparticles.
Termitomycesheimii is a species of agaric fungus in the family Lyophyllaceae.
It has a symbiotic relationship with termites.
The specific epithet heimiihonors French mycologist Roger Heim.
The fruit bodies (mushrooms) produced by the fungus are edible.
For the first time, this species of mushroom has been brought into pure culture, grown as pellets, and used to produce gold nanoparticles.
The breakthrough pioneers the use of an eco-friendly species for mass production of gold nanoparticles.
The Nagoya protocol gives Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) the mandate to use these resources for industries while sharing benefits with the local community.