Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
Some mushrooms have medicinal properties.
Some mushrooms have psychoactive properties.
Some mushrooms have insecticidal properties.
Some mushrooms have bioluminescent properties.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Only one
Only two
Only three
All four
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is correct.
Some mushrooms contain polysaccharides, terpenoids, phenolic compounds and other bioactive substances.
Antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties have been identified in these compounds.
Mushrooms such as Ganoderma, Lentinula and Trametes have been studied in traditional medicine and modern pharmacological research.
The presence of medicinal compounds in a mushroom does not mean that its consumption without medical evaluation is safe.
Statement 2 is correct.
Some mushrooms belonging to the genus Psilocybe contain psychoactive compounds such as psilocybin and psilocin.
In the body, psilocybin is converted into psilocin, which affects serotonin receptors.
This can cause changes in perception, mood, sense of time and thought processes.
Unregulated consumption of these substances may create health and legal risks.
Statement 3 is correct.
Some mushroom-producing fungi produce insecticidal proteins, lectins and other secondary metabolites.
These substances can affect the feeding, development, digestion or survival of insects.
Antifeedant properties have also been identified in some mushroom-derived compounds, causing insects to reduce their consumption of plants or food materials.
Because of these properties, such compounds are studied for the development of biological insecticides.
Statement 4 is correct.
Some mushrooms belonging to genera such as Mycena, Omphalotus and Neonothopanus can produce light.
This bioluminescence involves a biochemical reaction associated with luciferin, luciferase and oxygen.
It generally produces visible green light.
Bioluminescence may appear in the fruiting body or in the underground fungal mycelium.