Abstract: Fungal crosslinked structures, fungal crosslinking systems, and methods for crosslinking a fungal material. The crosslinked fungal material described herein comprises a variety of crosslinkers, crosslinking sites, and various combinations of crosslinks, each forming unique structures. The crosslinked fungal material comprises at least one crosslinking compound attached to a bonding site. The fungal crosslinking system includes a preparation unit, an impregnating unit, a crosslinking unit and a rinsing unit. The preparation unit may partially deacetylate chitin within the fungal material and within chitin nanowhiskers. The impregnating unit impregnates the fungal material with chitin nanowhiskers. The crosslinking unit is configured to crosslink the fungal material and chitin nanowhiskers via genipin to create a composite material. The rinsing unit rinses and removes unreacted genipin material thereby rendering a crosslinked composite material.

Abstract: An abrasion resistant finish for a fungal material, the finishing comprising an optimum quantity biodegradable polylactic acid plastic (PLA) dispersed in water to produce a PLA mixture. When the PLA mixture is applied to the fungal material, water carries the PLA deeply into the matrix of the fungal hyphae to a depth at least 2 N/10 mm or 1% of the thickness of the fungal material, whichever is greater. The finish fortifies the hyphal structure as the water evaporates and creates a PLA coating on the fungal material with improved abrasion resistance and water resistance.

Abstract: An abrasion resistant finish for a fungal material, the finishing comprising an optimum quantity biodegradable polylactic acid plastic (PLA) dispersed in water to produce a PLA mixture. When the PLA mixture is applied to the fungal material, water carries the PLA deeply into the matrix of the fungal hyphae to a depth at least 2 N/10 mm or 1% of the thickness of the fungal material, whichever is greater. The finish fortifies the hyphal structure as the water evaporates and creates a PLA coating on the fungal material with improved abrasion resistance and water resistance.

Abstract: A system for growing fungi, the system comprising a nutritive vehicle, a porous material, an administrable space, fungal tissue comprising fungal hyphae having a growth pattern, the fungal tissue connecting said nutritive vehicle to said porous material to said administrable space, wherein the fungal tissue within said space defines at least one successive fungal material layer; and a chemically or physically altered separated portion of fungal material, the separated portion separated from said fungal tissue.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for growing a solid substrate-bound mycelium through which the mycelium composite is easily and readily removed. This is achieved through the use of a perforation layer embedded between the mycelium substrate and the mycelium composite so as to create a uniform structural weakness and thereby enhancing harvesting abilities of the ex-substrate mycelium via a greatly reduced and uniform tear strength. The perforation layer, through which the mycelium grows, allows for the gated and controlled extrusion of a matrix of colonial cells that may be easily and uniformly delaminated from the underlying mycelium substrate.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for optimal production of pure mycelium or a pure mycelium composite with controlled or predictable properties, the bed comprising a tray, a conveying platform, a permeable membrane, a substrate, and a porous material. The permeable membrane is positioned on the conveying platform within the tray. The substrate is positioned on the permeable membrane and the porous material is positioned on top of the substrate. The system provides a configuration wherein the CO2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for growing a solid substrate-bound mycelium through which the mycelium composite is easily and readily removed. This is achieved through the use of a perforation layer embedded between the mycelium substrate and the mycelium composite so as to create a uniform structural weakness and thereby enhancing harvesting abilities of the ex-substrate mycelium via a greatly reduced and uniform tear strength. The perforation layer, through which the mycelium grows, allows for the gated and controlled extrusion of a matrix of colonial cells that may be easily and uniformly delaminated from the underlying mycelium substrate.

Abstract: Fungal crosslinked structures, fungal crosslinking systems, and methods for crosslinking a fungal material. The crosslinked fungal material described herein comprises a variety of crosslinkers, crosslinking sites, and various combinations of crosslinks, each forming unique structures. The crosslinked fungal material comprises at least one crosslinking compound attached to a bonding site. The fungal crosslinking system includes a preparation unit, an impregnating unit, a crosslinking unit and a rinsing unit. The preparation unit may partially deacetylate chitin within the fungal material and within chitin nanowhiskers. The impregnating unit impregnates the fungal material with chitin nanowhiskers. The crosslinking unit is configured to crosslink the fungal material and chitin nanowhiskers via genipin to create a composite material. The rinsing unit rinses and removes unreacted genipin material thereby rendering a crosslinked composite material.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for optimal production of pure mycelium or a pure mycelium composite with controlled or predictable properties, the bed comprising a tray, a conveying platform, a permeable membrane, a substrate, and a porous material. The permeable membrane is positioned on the conveying platform within the tray. The substrate is positioned on the permeable membrane and the porous material is positioned on top of the substrate. The system provides a configuration wherein the CO2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

Abstract: A system for growing fungi, the system comprising a nutritive vehicle, a porous material, an administrable space, fungal tissue comprising fungal hyphae having a growth pattern, the fungal tissue connecting said nutritive vehicle to said porous material to said administrable space, wherein the fungal tissue within said space defines at least one successive fungal material layer; and a chemically or physically altered separated portion of fungal material, the separated portion separated from said fungal tissue.

Abstract: A system for growing fungi, the system comprising a nutritive vehicle, a porous material, an administrable space, fungal tissue comprising fungal hyphae having a growth pattern, the fungal tissue connecting said nutritive vehicle to said porous material to said administrable space, wherein the fungal tissue within said space defines at least one successive fungal material layer; and a chemically or physically altered separated portion of fungal material, the separated portion separated from said fungal tissue.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for optimal production of pure mycelium or a pure mycelium composite with controlled or predictable properties, the bed comprising a tray, a conveying platform, a permeable membrane, a substrate, and a porous material. The permeable membrane is positioned on the conveying platform within the tray. The substrate is positioned on the permeable membrane and the porous material is positioned on top of the substrate. The system provides a configuration wherein the CO2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

Abstract: A system for growing fungi, the system comprising a nutritive vehicle, a porous material, an administrable space, fungal tissue comprising fungal hyphae having a growth pattern, the fungal tissue connecting said nutritive vehicle to said porous material to said administrable space, wherein the fungal tissue within said space defines at least one successive fungal material layer; and a chemically or physically altered separated portion of fungal material, the separated portion separated from said fungal tissue.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for optimal production of pure mycelium or a pure mycelium composite with controlled or predictable properties, the bed comprising a tray, a conveying platform, a permeable membrane, a substrate, a porous material and a lid. The permeable membrane is positioned on the conveying platform within the tray. The substrate is positioned on the permeable membrane and the porous material is positioned on top of the substrate. The system provides a configuration having a substrate weight to surrounding space volume ratio between 0.5 and 5.0 g/cc, an air volume (surrounding space) to substrate volume between 0.01 and 1.0, and an air volume (surrounding space) to substrate area is between 0.5 and 5 cc/cm, wherein the CO2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

Abstract: A system for growing fungi, the system comprising a nutritive vehicle, a porous material, an administrable space, fungal tissue comprising fungal hyphae having a growth pattern, the fungal tissue connecting said nutritive vehicle to said porous material to said administrable space, wherein the fungal tissue within said space defines at least one successive fungal material layer; and a chemically or physically altered separated portion of fungal material, the separated portion separated from said fungal tissue.

Abstract: A system for growing fungi, the system comprising a nutritive vehicle, a porous material, an administrable space, fungal tissue comprising fungal hyphae having a growth pattern, the fungal tissue connecting said nutritive vehicle to said porous material to said administrable space, wherein the fungal tissue within said space defines at least one successive fungal material layer; and a chemically or physically altered separated portion of fungal material, the separated portion separated from said fungal tissue.

Abstract: A fungal growth structure comprising a nutritive vehicle, a porous material, an administrable space. fungal tissue comprising fungal hyphae having a growth pattern, the fungal tissue connecting said nutritive vehicle to said porous material to said administrable space, wherein the fungal tissue within said space defines at least one successive fungal material layer; and a chemically or physically altered separated portion of fungal material, the separated portion separated from said fungal tissue.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for growing a solid substrate-bound mycelium through which the mycelium composite is easily and readily removed. This is achieved through the use of a perforation layer embedded between the mycelium substrate and the mycelium composite so as to create a uniform structural weakness and thereby enhancing harvesting abilities of the ex-substrate mycelium via a greatly reduced and uniform tear strength. The perforation layer, through which the mycelium grows, allows for the gated and controlled extrusion of a matrix of colonial cells that may be easily and uniformly delaminated from the underlying mycelium substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming fungal materials and fungal objects from those fungal materials, the method comprising the steps of growing a first fungal tissue in contact with a nutritive vehicle; supplying a porous material in contact with said first fungal tissue; directing growth of said fungal tissue through said porous material such that a portion of said fungal tissue comprises a first fungal material having first fungal hyphae; optionally incorporating composite material; directing a change in the composition or growth pattern of at least some of said first fungal hyphae; separating at least a portion of the first fungal material from said nutritive vehicle; obtaining a second fungal material having second fungal hyphae; and forming a fungal object by encouraging fused growth between said first fungal material and said second fungal material and optionally incorporating composite material.

Abstract: An abrasion resistant finish for a fungal material, the finishing comprising an optimum quantity biodegradable polylactic acid plastic (PLA) dispersed in water to produce a PLA mixture. When the PLA mixture is applied to the fungal material, water carries the PLA deeply into the matrix of the fungal hyphae to a depth at least 2 N/10 mm or 1% of the thickness of the fungal material, whichever is greater. The finish fortifies the hyphal structure as the water evaporates and creates a PLA coating on the fungal material with improved abrasion resistance and water resistance.