Fomes fomentarius (Tinder Mushroom)

Tinder mushrooms, belonging to the genus Fomes, are a type of hard, woody fungi commonly found on decaying trees. A notable species, Fomes fomentarius, has potential applications in various modern industries, including the production of sustainable materials for construction, furniture design, and fashion accessories. Researchers are exploring its use in creating eco-friendly leather alternatives and innovative biocomposites. This mushroom's versatility highlights its significance in the pursuit of sustainable and renewable resources.

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Myco-Tetris

A project by Alessandro Volpato, is an interactive initiative involving the public in manufacturing fungal composites, aiming to stimulate biotechnology research and encourage sustainable design. By engaging in activities like playing, building, and learning about fungi, visitors contribute to co-design efforts and applied research in fungal biotechnology.

As the course "Growing Microorganisms for Bioart Projects SoSe24," we are continuing with the Myco-Tetris project, and this document serves as our day-by-day documentation. The actual work spans four meetings, capturing our progress and insights throughout the process.

Day 0 Prepare Agar Medium Petri Dishes

The preparation of agar medium Petri dishes was already completed in advance, allowing the course participants to skip this step. For reference to the original experiment, please see Prepare Agar Medium Petri Dishes

Day 1 Prepare agar medium flat jars

For reference to the original experiment, please see Prepare agar medium flat jars

Day 2 Preparation of Grain Spawn

Objective: Prepare grain substrate in a jar to produce biomass.

Materials: pressure cooker, scale, distilled water, rice grains, gypsum (CaSO4 - calcium sulphate), spoon, plate with well-growing mycelium, scalpel, gloves, ethanol, jar, wadding

Step 1: Weigh Materials

Component	Quantity		Component Quantity Custom Quantity
rice grain	30	multiplier	g
Calcium sulphate (gypsum)	(2%) 0.6g	multiplier	g

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Step 2: Soak rice Grains and Add Gypsum

1. Pour boiling distilled water over rice grains and allow them to soak for a minimum of one hour to absorb the water fully.
2. Drain any excess liquid.
3. Combine the gypsum with the soaked rice grains, ensuring thorough mixing

1. Transfer the mixture into a heat-resistant glass jar.

1. Create a ventilation hole in the lid and insert cotton wadding for mushroom air exchange.

1. Seal the jars and cover the lid with aluminum foil.

Step 3: Sterilize In Pressure Cooker

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Step 4: Add Mycelium

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Step 5: Incubate

For reference to the original experiment, please see Preparation of Grain Spawn

Day 3 Preparation of a Small Bag with Substrate

For reference to the original experiment, please see Preparation of a Small Bag with Substrate

Day 4 Fabrication of a solid object made of mycelium composite materials

For reference to the original experiment, please see Fabrication of a solid object made of mycelium composite materials