Abstract: The process aseptically inoculates a liquid media with a vegetative Xylaria fungal species to form a culture; statically incubates the culture in a vessel for a time sufficient to begin initiation of fruit body development and asexual sporulation and halts incubation at maximum conidia production prior to the beginning of sexual sporulation. Thereafter, the entire culture contents of the incubation vessel are macerated to homogenize the fungal biomass and conidia therein and form an inoculum.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the process combines a fraction (up to 15%) of a lignocellulose substrate with supplemental nutritional material and hydrates the fraction to a moisture content of from 40% to 70% by weight. The hydrated substrate fraction is heat processed to remove ambient bioburden (yeast, mold, bacteria) and to maintain the hydrated substrate fraction in an aseptic condition. Thereafter, the hydrated substrate fraction is inoculated with a fungus and incubated to obtain a myceliated substrate which is then reduced into discrete particles. The remaining fraction of the substrate is combined with water and then combined with the discrete particles of myceliated substrate and incubated to obtain a second myceliated substrate which is then reduced into discrete particles. The second myceliated substrate is combined with supplemental nutritional material and incubated to obtain a third myceliated substrate composed of at least 10% mycelium.

Abstract: The process aseptically inoculates a liquid media with a vegetative Xylaria fungal species to form a culture; statically incubates the culture in a vessel for a time sufficient to begin initiation of fruit body development and asexual sporulation and halts incubation at maximum conidia production prior to the beginning of sexual sporulation. Thereafter, the entire culture contents of the incubation vessel are macerated to homogenize the fungal biomass and conidia therein and form an inoculum.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the process combines a fraction (up to 15%) of a lignocellulose substrate with supplemental nutritional material and hydrates the fraction to a moisture content of from 40% to 70% by weight. The hydrated substrate fraction is heat processed to remove ambient bioburden (yeast, mold, bacteria) and to maintain the hydrated substrate fraction in an aseptic condition. Thereafter, the hydrated substrate fraction is inoculated with a fungus and incubated to obtain a myceliated substrate which is then reduced into discrete particles. The remaining fraction of the substrate is combined with water and then combined with the discrete particles of myceliated substrate and incubated to obtain a second myceliated substrate which is then reduced into discrete particles. The second myceliated substrate is combined with supplemental nutritional material and incubated to obtain a third myceliated substrate composed of at least 10% mycelium.

Abstract: A method of producing a fungal leachate solution comprises the steps of obtaining a feedstock of lignocellulosic substrate; colonizing the substrate with a selected fungus; and adding water to the colonized substrate to form a liquid medium containing at least one of sugar alcohol, a phenolic compound and a fatty acid. A leachate from the liquid medium can be used as a liquid culture medium to culture fungi.

Abstract: A plant essential oil emulsion is used to disinfect the raw material used in making a self-supporting composite material formed by the growth of the hyphae of a fungus into and about the discrete particles of the raw material.