Detection of electrical signals in fungal mycelia in response to external stimuli

Summary

Researchers developed a new method to detect and measure electrical signals produced by fungal mycelium using specialized circuit boards and advanced analysis techniques. The study found that fungi generate electrical activity that correlates with their growth, which can be altered by treating them with different chemicals. This discovery suggests that fungi may use electrical signals to communicate and adapt to their environment, similar to how animals and plants use electrical signaling. The new method provides a foundation for better understanding how fungi communicate within their networked mycelial systems.

Background

Electrical signaling is a crucial communication mechanism across diverse biological systems including animals, plants, and microorganisms. While electrical activity has been observed in fungal fruiting bodies, a standardized method for detecting these signals in vegetative mycelium has been lacking, with previous studies suffering from experimental flaws and artifacts.

Objective

To develop a reproducible and standardized method for detecting extracellular electrical signals in fungal mycelia and confirm their biological origin through controlled stimulation experiments.

Results

Electrical activity was detected in mycelium that correlated with fungal growth, showing signature frequencies above 1.5 Hz during colonization. The system demonstrated a 1,604% increase in power spectral density in inoculated electrodes compared to controls. Different biocides produced distinct effects on electrical signals, supporting their biological origin.

Conclusion

This study provides a robust framework for studying fungal electrophysiology through development of the FPC system. The findings suggest electrical signaling plays a role in fungal environmental adaptation and cellular communication, with implications for understanding signaling mechanisms in mycelial networks.
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