Fungal Diversity used to produce Mycelium Materials

Pure mycelium materials (PMMs) and mycelium bound composites (MBCs), collectively known as mycelium-based materials (MBMs), are promising sustainable alternatives for materials such as those used in textiles, packaging and construction. The aim of this review is to describe which species so far have been used in MBM research and how impactful the choice of the fungal species is when compared to other variables in the MBM production process. A total of 92 species has been used in experiments described in research papers, patents, and patent applications. Species belonging to the class of Agaricomycetes (Basidiomycota) are mainly used, in particular Ganoderma spp., Fomes fomentarius , Pleurotus spp. , and Schizophyllum commune . Despite the limited variety of fungi that have been applied in MBM research, it is shown that the fungal species, and strains thereof, have a relatively large impact on the mechanical properties of the MBMs when compared to the other variables in production of these materials (i.e. substrate composition, environmental growth conditions, and post-processing), in particular in the case of PMMs. A wider screen of species from the fungal kingdom is therefore expected to result in MBMs with improved properties or even with novel properties. • Mycelium-based materials (MBMs) offer sustainable alternatives to current materials • 96 fungal species, > 90% of which Agaricomycetes, used so far in MBMs • Ascomycota and Mucoromycota also hold promise for use as MBMs • Type of species and substrate impact properties of mycelium based composites • Growth conditions and processing also impact properties of pure mycelium materials