FungiEco Editorial Team Garden “waste” is often a useful biological resource waiting to be processed. Fallen leaves, small branches, woody prunings, straw and other suitable plant materials contain carbon and nutrients that can return to the soil rather than leaving the garden’s productive cycle. Fungi are especially important in this process. They are major decomposers of plant material, … Read more
Branches from shelterbelts, logs left after tree work, chipped prunings and other woody residues can become useful resources on a lifestyle block. Instead of treating all of this material as waste, begin by considering where it could support fungi, soil life, moisture management or habitat. Start with a property inventory Walk around the property and … Read more
As mushroom production grows, spawn and inoculation move from a small hands-on task to a central production system. A grower may begin by inoculating a few bags or logs, but regular farm production can involve preparing and inoculating substrate every week. At that scale, the quality, quantity, timing and distribution of spawn directly affect whether … Read more
Woodchip-based treatment systems are increasingly used to manage nitrate in agricultural drainage, especially where subsurface tile drains collect water and deliver it to ditches, streams or wetlands. These systems use a contained bed of woodchips as a carbon source and habitat for microorganisms. They are often called woodchip bioreactors. Fungi may naturally colonise the wood … Read more
Mycofiltration is the use of organic filter media colonised by fungal mycelium to help manage water or runoff. The fungal network may contribute to physical entrapment, adsorption, microbial interactions and, in some circumstances, enzymatic transformation of contaminants. However, it remains an emerging and insufficiently standardised approach. A responsible community project should therefore treat mycofiltration as … Read more
Urban green infrastructure already works through living systems. Rain gardens, bioswales, urban forests, planted drainage systems, wetlands, green corridors, parks and other soil-based stormwater features bring together water, plants, soil, microbes and organic matter. Their performance depends on how these components interact: vegetation slows and uses water, soil stores and filters it, organic matter supports … Read more
Type: Historical field experimentationLocation: Washington, USA Some of the early development of mycofiltration involved Stropharia rugosoannulata growing through woodchip beds positioned where water drained from livestock areas. These observations helped stimulate subsequent attempts to investigate fungal filtration scientifically. Later controlled studies have produced much more nuanced results and demonstrated the importance of flow rate, substrate, … Read more
Type: Experimental space biologyLocation: International Space Station Some melanized fungi are unusually tolerant of high-radiation environments. Researchers therefore grew Cladosporium sphaerospermum aboard the International Space Station to investigate its behaviour and possible radiation-shielding properties. The experiment investigated both fungal growth in the space environment and radiation levels associated with the fungal biomass. This remains exploratory … Read more
Type: Laboratory researchLocation: Portugal Researchers studying the marine fungus Zalerion maritimum investigated whether it could contribute to the biodegradation of polyethylene microplastics. Under the experimental conditions, polyethylene pellets exposed to the fungus decreased in both mass and size, while chemical analyses provided further evidence of changes to the material. This does not mean that fungi … Read more
Type: Commercial fungal materialsLocation: USA MycoWorks has taken another approach to fungal biomaterials, developing a process called Fine Mycelium that controls mycelial growth to produce dense sheet materials. Its Reishi material has been developed for applications including fashion, footwear, automotive products and interior design. The company has also worked with established luxury brands and manufacturers. … Read more