MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Quantification of fungal biomass in mycelium composites made from diverse biogenic side streams

Summary

Scientists developed a new method to measure how much fungus is in mycelium-based composite materials by analyzing fungal DNA. They tested three types of fungus with eight different agricultural waste materials to see which combinations made the strongest composites. The results show that the amount of fungus needed and the resulting material quality depends on both which fungus is used and which waste material is chosen, with some combinations needing as little as 5% fungus while others required much more.

Background

Mycelium composite materials are sustainable biomaterials comprised of renewable organic substrates interconnected by fungal mycelium. These materials are fully biodegradable and have promising properties, but the proportion of fungal biomass in composites has rarely been quantified, limiting assessment of mycelium’s contribution to material characteristics.

Objective

To establish a quantitative PCR-based method for measuring fungal biomass in mycelium composites and evaluate 20 different fungus-substrate combinations to understand the relationship between mycelial content and composite stability.

Results

Ganoderma sessile formed stable composites with most substrates showing positive correlation between mycelial biomass and stability. Mycelium requirements varied significantly by fungus-substrate combination, ranging from less than 5% for Trametes versicolor on sugar beet pulp to 20% for Pleurotus pulmonarius on green waste that remained crumbly.

Conclusion

The qPCR-based quantification method successfully estimates fungal biomass in mycelium composites, demonstrating that fungal species, substrate properties, and their combination are crucial for material stability. The method enables better understanding of mycelium’s contribution to composite characteristics and can optimize incubation time and production costs.
  • Published in:Fungal Biology and Biotechnology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.1186/s40694-024-00189-y; PMID: 39558429
Scroll to Top