Page 13 - Yunnan Tourism Culture Times (94)

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Yunnan’s wild mushrooms offer a rich
variety, capturing the fascination of many.
Samantha Chandranath Karunarathna,
a noted fungus expert hailing from Sri
Lanka, indulges not only in relishing the
delectable flavors of Yunnan’s wild mush-
rooms, but also dedicates himself to
conducting academic research on them.
Today, he considers Yunnan his home
away from home and takes immense joy
in his fulfilling life within its embrace.
云南野生菌品种丰富，许多人都为之痴
迷，来自斯里兰卡的真菌专家萨曼塔，不仅
喜欢吃云南的野生菌，还对野生菌进行了专
业学术研究。如今，云南被他视作第二故乡，
在这里的生活十分惬意。
CITY LIFE | 城事
In 2021, Samantha came to the Kunming Institute of Botany for a
postdoctoral research project. Now he imparts his knowledge as a facul-
ty member at the School of Bioresources and Food Engineering, Qujing
Normal University, and he has also chosen Qujing as his abode. In 2022,
Samantha was honored with the Caiyun Award by the Yunnan provin-
cial government. This award is bestowed upon foreign experts who have
made significant and impactful contributions to the province, reflecting
the highest level of recognition and appreciation.
Since arriving in Yunnan, Samantha has dedicated himself to the
exploration of taxonomy, systematics, and domestication of macrofungi.
His prolific efforts have resulted in the publication of over 150 valuable
papers on fungi, including 9 noteworthy contributions in esteemed in-
ternational journals such as Fungal Diversity and Studies in Mycology.
Remarkably, he has been instrumental in the discovery and identifica-
tion of numerous previously unknown fungal species. In the year 2020,
Samantha identified three luminescent mushrooms in diverse regions,
ranging from Meghalaya in India to Xishuangbanna and Lijiang in Chi-
na. Recently, his research efforts have garnered support from the Nation-
al Natural Science Foundation of China for his research project titled
“Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Research of Luminescent Mushrooms in
Yunnan.”
Luminescent fungi have diverse applications in various fields includ-
ing medical research, agriculture, environmental biosensors, biochem-
istry, and photochemistry. Out of the 148,000 reported species of fungi
worldwide, approximately 114 are known to exhibit luminescence.
While China has reported 24 species of luminescent fungi, the number
of known luminescent fungi in Yunnan Province is relatively limited.
Currently, Samantha is undertaking a systematic survey of Yunnan’s
major forest areas to gather luminescent mushrooms for comprehensive
study utilizing morphological and phylogenetic techniques. This re-
search project aims to provide valuable insights into the bioluminescent
mechanisms of luminescent fungi, benefiting professionals such as bio-
chemists, ecologists, microbiologists, and molecular biologists.
According to Samantha, Yunnan’s fungal resources hold significant
global importance. With over 3,000 known species of fungi worldwide,
Yunnan alone boasts more than 900 out of China’s 1,000 recorded spe-
cies of fungi. China is recognized as a frontrunner in biodiversity pres-
ervation, and Yunnan’s efforts in this regard have drawn international
attention during the first phase of the 15 Conference of the Parties to
th
the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) held
in Kunming. Additionally, Yunnan actively welcomes accomplished
researchers focused on biodiversity studies, and the province has im-
plemented various policies to attract foreign talents. It is these factors
among others that motivated Samantha to settle in Yunnan.
“This year marks the 10 anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative,
th
a milestone that has significantly strengthened the bond between Sri
Lanka and China. The people of Sri Lanka and China share a profound
closeness akin to that of family, and Yunnan has become a cherished
second home for me. During my free time, I take pleasure in teaching
students at Qujing Normal University how to play cricket, a sport highly
beloved in South Asia. Exploring various regions of Yunnan, I always
take delight in sampling the delectable local dishes featuring wild mush-
rooms. I’m genuinely content with my work and life here,” Samantha
said.