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Effect of Common Foods as Supplements for the Mycelium Growth of Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus on Solid Substrates

Summary

This research explored how adding common food supplements like barley can improve the growth of fungal materials that could replace plastics and other environmentally harmful materials. The scientists found that adding ground barley significantly enhanced fungal growth, offering a simple way to produce sustainable materials from waste. Impacts on everyday life: – Enables production of eco-friendly packaging and building materials from agricultural waste – Provides a way to reduce food waste by using it to create useful materials – Makes it easier for local manufacturers to produce sustainable alternatives to plastics – Supports development of circular economies in communities – Demonstrates how common foods can improve production of biodegradable materials

Background

The transition from a linear to circular economy is urgently needed to mitigate environmental impacts and loss of biodiversity. Mycelium-bound composites obtained from fungal growth on lignocellulosic substrates show promise as natural materials derived from waste. These can be used for applications like insulation, textiles, and packaging. Food waste accounts for nearly 44% of total municipal solid waste, suggesting potential for incorporating food supplements to increase nutrients for fungal growth.

Objective

To study the effects of adding common food supplements (barley, oats, flaxseed) on the growth of two fungal species – Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus – on solid substrates like bamboo and wood chips. The study aimed to characterize the substrates, food supplements, and resulting mycelia using various analytical techniques.

Results

Addition of barley as a supplement significantly boosted mycelium growth for both fungal species, even without optimized growth conditions. Barley was most effective due to its smaller particle size and high carbohydrate content. Without food supplements, minimal growth occurred on the substrates. The supplements affected mycelium morphology but not its chemical composition, which remained species-dependent.

Conclusion

Using common foods like barley as nutritious supplements is a simple and effective strategy to enhance mycelium growth for biocomposite production. This approach can help valorize food and green waste into useful materials while enabling local manufacturers to produce mycelium composites without intensive optimization or specialization. The method shows promise for developing local circular economies.
  • Published in:PLOS One,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260170
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