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Phlebiopsis friesii (Phanerochaetaceae, Polyporales), a New Record in Thailand and the First Preliminary Characterization of Its Potential in Mycelium Mats

Summary

Researchers in Thailand discovered a mushroom species called Phlebiopsis friesii and found it could be used to create a sustainable leather alternative. By growing the mushroom mycelium (the thread-like root structure) in different nutrient broths and treating it with special chemicals, scientists created flexible, leather-like mats that could replace animal leather in fashion and manufacturing. This discovery offers an eco-friendly solution to reduce the environmental damage caused by traditional leather production.

Background

Phlebiopsis friesii is a white-rot mushroom species that has been relatively underexplored for applications in biomaterial development. Mycelium-based leather (MBL) represents a sustainable alternative to conventional leather production, offering eco-friendly benefits including low production costs, biodegradability, and reduced environmental impact compared to animal-based leather.

Objective

To document a new geographical record of Phlebiopsis friesii in Thailand based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis, and to characterize the potential of pure mycelium mats from this species for developing mycelium-based biomaterials.

Results

P. friesii was confirmed as a new record for Thailand with strong phylogenetic support (ML=99%, MP=98%). Among culture media tested, MEA, PDA, and YMA showed favorable growth characteristics, with YMB producing the highest biomass yield at 0.77±0.01g by day 60. Treated mycelium mats displayed improved surface properties with lower water contact angles (75.52-83.29°) compared to control samples (101.63-123.96°), indicating hydrophilic behavior suitable for leather applications.

Conclusion

This study establishes P. friesii as a new geographical record in Thailand and demonstrates its potential for mycelium-based biomaterial production. The comparative analysis of treated and untreated mycelium mats reveals that glycerol, tannic acid, and hot-pressing treatments enhance structural integrity and surface properties, though further optimization is needed to improve mechanical properties for practical leather applications.
  • Published in:Mycobiology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.1080/12298093.2025.2518801, PMID: 40585873
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