Abstract
Summary Naturally bioluminescent fungi, Armillaria mellea and Mycena citricolor , were used to develop a novel, bioluminescence‐based bioassay for toxicity testing. Bioassays were carried out to assess the toxicity of 3,5‐dichlorophenol (3,5‐DCP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), copper and zinc. The results suggested that 60 min was a suitable exposure time for the bioassay. Light reduction was observed in response to 3,5‐DCP, PCP and Cu for both A. mellea and M. citricolor , but to Zn only for A. mellea . Armillaria mellea was significantly less sensitive to 3,5‐DCP and PCP than M. citricolor. The EC 50 values for A. mellea and M. citricolor were similar to EC 50 values for 3,5‐DCP, PCP and Cu (but not Zn) of bioluminescence‐based bacterial biosensors. They were also similar to EC 50 values for Cu and Zn of a bioluminescence‐based yeast biosensor. The results highlighted the importance of using both prokaryotic and eukaryotic biosensors. The novel bioassay provides a rapid and sensitive method to assess bioavailability of pollutants as well as a method to determine their toxicity to filamentous fungi. It also expands the range of organisms that can be used for bioluminescence‐based toxicity testing by complementing existing biosensors.