Lobella
Börner, 1906
Lobella is a of (: ) established by Börner in 1906. The genus includes soil-dwelling , with Lobella sauteri being a notable bioluminescent species that exhibits a novel -dependent light production system. Members of this genus are found across multiple biogeographic regions including East Asia and North America.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Lobella: /loʊˈbɛlə/
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Habitat
Soil environments, particularly in areas with minimal light penetration. Laboratory cultures of L. sauteri are maintained at 22°C in plastic containers embedded with plaster.
Distribution
Continental Southeast Asia, Malaysia, northern North America, and the Sino-Japanese region (based on GBIF records). L. sauteri specifically is documented from Japan.
Diet
L. sauteri feeds on Fuligo septica plasmodia (sole food source in laboratory culture). Does not feed on Mycena chlorophos mycelium or dry yeast.
Host Associations
- Fuligo septica - food sourceplasmodia consumed as sole food source in laboratory culture
Life Cycle
In L. sauteri: time approximately 3 months (75–105 days from -laying to next generation); eggs hatch in ~15.5 days; eggs observed 60–90 days after hatching; lifespan ~140–154 days; high mortality in first month post-hatching due to water droplet entrapment.
Behavior
L. sauteri exhibits spontaneous from the whole body in ; in and , light is emitted from when mechanically stimulated or blown upon. Bioluminescence intensity increases before , coinciding with tubercle whitening. Light emission exhibits periodic changes, with spontaneous flashes exceeding 10,000 relative light units.
Ecological Role
Soil-dwelling representative of the litter layer . L. sauteri has been proposed as a potential model for investigating underground light-based communication, though this ecological function remains to be confirmed.
Human Relevance
L. sauteri provides a valuable laboratory model for studying novel bioluminescent systems. It can be maintained for multiple under laboratory conditions, offering opportunities to investigate mechanisms distinct from known fungal or bacterial systems.
More Details
Bioluminescent mechanism
L. sauteri employs a novel luciferin-luciferase system requiring and Mg²⁺, distinct from photoprotein systems. The biochemical reaction has been reconstructed , demonstrating production of light independent of dietary supplementation.
Laboratory culture
L. sauteri has been successfully cultured for at least five in laboratory conditions, with 86% hatching success from masses of approximately 10 eggs each.