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Effects of Environmental and Nutritional Conditions on Mycelium Growth of Three Basidiomycota

Summary

Researchers tested how three types of edible and medicinal mushroom fungi grow on different substrate mixtures to develop better biodegradable materials for packaging and insulation. They found that substrates rich in cotton fibers combined with specific carbon dioxide levels produced the fastest and densest fungal growth. These findings help optimize the production of eco-friendly mushroom-based materials that could replace plastic and foam products while being fully compostable.

Background

Mycelium-based composites represent a sustainable alternative to petroleum-derived materials for packaging and insulation applications. These fungal materials possess properties comparable to conventional foams and particle boards while being biodegradable. Optimizing mycelium production under technical conditions requires investigation of fungal growth factors and substrate characteristics.

Objective

The study aimed to select fast-growing fungi and identify optimized incubation conditions for dense mycelium mat production in short timeframes. The influence of substrate characteristics, pH elevation via calcium carbonate, and carbon dioxide concentration on hyphal expansion was systematically evaluated.

Results

Cotton fiber-rich substrates performed best for all fungi with growth rates up to 5.4 mm/day (P. ostreatus) and 5.3 mm/day (T. versicolor), though mycelium density was thin. G. lucidum showed significantly denser mycelium at 3.3 mm/day on 75 wt.% cotton fiber substrate without CaCO3 but with 5 vol.% CO2 flush. CaCO3 addition generally did not improve growth rates or mycelium density across all fungi tested.

Conclusion

Fungal growth behavior is primarily dependent on substrate composition including cellulose and lignin content, water-holding capacity, pH, C/N ratio, and macro/micronutrient content. Cotton fiber-rich substrates with high water capacity and appropriate CO2 levels optimized mycelium growth, while chemical pH elevation with CaCO3 was not beneficial. Identification of lignocellulosic residues and necessary additives is crucial for sustainable mycelium cultivation.
  • Published in:Mycobiology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 38690030, DOI: 10.1080/12298093.2024.2341492
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