• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.83-87
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• 2023

The importance of biocomposites has increased owing to the changes in global consumption trends and rapid climate change. Technologies using mushroom mycelium cultivation, and molding methods for mycelial application have gained attention as potential strategies for producing eco-friendly composites. Currently, mushroom mycelia are used as raw materials for food and cosmetics; however, research on their utilization as biocomposite materials is limited. Therefore, the potential for the development of mushroom mycelium-related products and technologies is high. This review analyzes the domestic and international patent application trends related to the technologies for composite (packaging, insulation, adhesives, and leather) and food (substitute for meat) materials using mushroom mycelium, as an eco-friendly biocomposite material, to provide objective patent information that can further research and development (R&D) in this field.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.174-178
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• 2017

Fungal mycelium-based composite materials (FMBC) are a new biomaterial to replace the existing composite materials. To compete with lightweight, high-performance composite materials represented by fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), various physical and chemical properties and functionality must be secured. Especially, the composite materials made by using mycelium of mushroom is called mushroom plastic. Currently, Ecovative, Grado Zero Espace and MycoWorks in USA and Europe are launching new products. Products utilizing FMBC can be launched in the market for construction materials, automobile interior materials and artificial leather substitutes. In spite of this high possibility, mass production using FMBC has not yet been reported. This review introduces the FMBC, a material that can replace existing plastics, inorganic building materials and animal skins in an environmentally and economically viable way, and looks at the possibility of future biomaterials by summarizing recent research contents.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 2022

Eco-friendly materials, such as alternative vegan materials using various fungal resources, are being actively researched to reduce environmental pollution and facilitate a healthy lifestyle. The fungal mycelium-based mushroom mycelium mat is one such emerging material. In this study, the commonly used mushroom mycelium culture method was modified to reduce the time required to produce the mycelium mat, lower the possibility of contamination, and improve the properties and quality of the mat. Shortening the period required for the previously used primary bag culture and secondary mat production culture. A culture method in which the bag culture was omitted was attempted using a mycelium mutated by gamma irradiation to the mycelium of Trametes orientalis. In addition, various nutrients were added to the fungal solution to observe the change in physical properties of the fungal mat. High-quality mycelium mats were produced in the experimental group containing 1.5% CaCO₃ in sawdust medium, and the period was also reduced by more than 10 days compared to the existing production method. In the future, for mass producing mycelium mats, additional selection of medium components and optimization of culture conditions are essential.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.393-397
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• 2020

Mycelium composites and leathers have versatile material properties based on their composition and manufacturing process. To prepare mycelium mat for the production of mushroom leather, several strains were mutated by gamma rays. Some mutant strains, including Lentinula edodes, Ganoderma lucidium, and Schizophyllum commune showed good hyphae growth rate and density on saw-dust media. Irradiation power (Gy), time, and height from the radiation source to the sample were examined. Based on the preliminary data obtained in this study, comprehensive research should be conducted to explore the optimal strains and culture conditions for mycelium-based leather production.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.185-189
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• 2023

This study was conducted to develop a renewable and sustainable bio-material to replace polystyrene (EPS) in fungal-mycelium-based composite using agricultural by-products. Four mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum, Fomitella fraxinea, Phellinus linteus, and Schizophyllum commune) were cultured in an oak sawdust plus rice bran substrate to select the mushroom with the best growth. The mycelia of G. lucidum showed the best growth. To investigate the optimal mixing ratio with spent mushroom substrate (SM) and oak sawdust (OS), samples were prepared by mixing SM and OS at ratios of 50%:50%, 60%:40%, and 80%:20% (w/w). Each substrate was then inoculated with G. lucidum. G. lucidum showed the best mycelial growth of 140.0 mm in the substrate with SM and OS mixed at a 60%:40% ratio. It was also found that the substrate with SM and OS mixed at a 60%:40% ratio had the best handling properties. The compressive strength of mycelial materials inoculated with G. lucidum was in the range of 300-302 kgf mm^-1, and the materials were four times stronger than polystyrene materials. These results indicate that substrates comprising spent mushroom substrate mixed with oak sawdust can be successfully upcycled to mycelium-based composite materials using G. lucidum. This represents a sustainable approach.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.111-118
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• 1996

For the screening and the development of the new bio-material, cultural conditions for the exo-biopolymer (EBP) production throught the submerged cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum mycelium were investigated. Also, the fractionations and the purifications of the exo-biopolymer were carried out and the chemical compositions of the exo-biopolymer were examined. The optimal culture conditions for the exo-biopolymer production were pH 5.0, 30$^{\circ}C$ and 100 rpm of agitation speed in the medium containing of 5% (w/v) glucose, 0.5%(w/v) yeast extract, 0.1% (w/v) ($(NH_4)_2HPO_4$, and 0.05% (w/v) $KH_2PO_4$. In the flask cultivation for 7 days under these conditions, the concentration of the maximum exo-biopolymer and the cell mass were 15.4g/l and 18.8g/l, respectively. The specific growth rate was 0.039 $hr^{-1}$. In addition, the substrate consumption rate, and the exo-biopolymer production rate were 0.043$gg^{-1}$$hr^{-1}$ and 0.025$gg^{-1}$$hr^{-1}$, respectively. The exo-biopolymer was fractionated into BWS (water soluble exo-biopolymer) and BWI (water insoluble exo-biopolymer) by the water extraction, and the sugar contents of two fractions were higher than 97% (based on dry basis). The components sugar of BWS and BWI fractions were glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, and fucose. Their molar ratios were 3.6:1.5:2.1:0.5: trace and 2.9:3.1:2.0:1.6:0.3, respectively.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2016

To investigate the effect of soluble silicate zeolite dressing of the rice against bakanae disease, field trial in reclaimed land and in vitro were carried out. The coated rice seeds (SCS) which were dressed with the mixture of 25% silicic acids (binder), and the zeolite (coating powder). In wet direct seeding, uniform scattering of rice seeds on the soil surface and the better seedling establishment were shown in SCS treatment plots. The incidence of bakanae disease began from the mid tillering stage toward the heading stage. Around heading stage, the ratio of infected tillers reached its highest point by 9.9% in non-SCS treatment plots. While, in SCS treatment plots, the ratio of infected tillers was no more than 0.01%. The vitality of the pathogenic fungi of bakanae disease in the SCS and non-SCS samples were assessed. Samples were incubated for one week keeping proper humidity at $30^{\circ}C$ after inoculated with panicles of infected rice plants from experimental field plots. In non-SCS treatment, pinkish colonies were formed on the grain surface of panicle of infected plants, and mycelium, macro-conidia and micro-conidia were developed actively inside part of infected grain inoculated. While in SCS treatment, micro-conidia and mycelium were not survived and the growth of macro-conidia, mycelia were greatly inhibited and withered. Based on the results, it is concluded that the environmental friendly control of bakanae disease by use of SCS is possible and soluble silicate can be applied as agents for replacement of seed disinfection.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.163-167
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• 2022

Bio-based alternative leathers may be produced from biomass fiber, protein polymers, bacterial cellulose, and mushroom mycelia. Of these components, mushroom mycelia are of greatest interest. In this study, the potential of Fomes fomentariusas a mushroom mycelial mat was confirmed, and the optimal strain for the development of the mycelial mat was determined. Moreover, the quality of the mycelial mat was improved by identifying an efficient culture method to increase productivity. Mutant strains whose independence was verified were obtained by treatment with gamma irradiation under various conditions. Biofilm formation by the resulting strains was examined in sawdust and liquid media and the characteristics of the biofilms were analyzed. The biofilm of the mutant strains showed results that were similar to or better than the biofilms of longevity and cypress mushrooms. These findings are expected to be utilized in future research aimed at discovering new biomaterials using mushroom mycelia.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.24 no.1 s.76
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• pp.81-88
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• 1996

Cereals were used as solid-substrate for the cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum. The hydration time with cold water appeared to be 10, 11 and 12 hours for Malt, Danyeob and Black soybeans respectively, and the water content was enough for mycelial growth in this condition. The hydration times required for sorghum, job's tears, barley, brown rice and wheat were 2.5, 4, 5, 10 and 12 hours respectively, but the final water content was much less than optimum water content (65%). Hot water reduced the hydration time of soybeans, and the water content reached to 65% within $120{\sim}150$mins. This condition showed the optimum for the mycelial growth. For the other cereals, it took about $17{\sim}120$ mins to reach the optimum water content (65%). From this result, hot water was better than cold water for the hydration of cereals. We attempted to develop a practically applicable process by combining the soaking and sterilization. This process was successful with soybean and about 1.1 times of water based on the weight of soybean appeared to be suitable. In all varieties of cereal, the water content of 65% appeared to be the best for the growth of the fungi and production of glucosamine related to the amount of mycelium. The mycelial growth rate in accordance with kinds of solid-state materials was in the order of barley > wheat > job's tears > sorghum > brown rice > soybean. The glucosamine content for determing the mycelial growth in solid material was in the order of wheat> barley > brown rice > job's tears > sorghum > soybean.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2021

This study was performed to find a medium material that can replace Douglas fir sawdust and rice bran in spawn media for growing spawn directly in the oyster mushroom farm. The pH range, total nitrogen source, and total carbon source of the mixed spawn medium were 5.3~5.9, 0.65~1.11%, and 47.0~49.1%, respectively. The C/N ratio was high in the mixed medium of poplar sawdust, with a low total nitrogen content. The protein content was high in the medium containing fermented Douglas fir sawdust. The mycelium growth rate was higher in the medium containing wheat bran than that in the medium containing rice bran. The highest yield per bottle was observed with poplar sawdust, oak sawdust, and rice bran mixed at a ratio of 40:40:20 (v/v/v); however, there was no significant difference observed in terms of productivity with the other treatments. Thus, when growing sawdust spawns in farms, it is efficient to use poplar sawdust, oak sawdust, and wheat bran, which are also easily available, instead of Douglas fir sawdust and rice bran.