A mushroom growing system for growing a mushroom from a gourd includes a gourd having an inner surface and an outer surface and defining an interior space. The gourd has a growth aperture extending therethrough. Mycelium are dispersed within a growth medium, which is positioned in the interior space. Pinning of the mycelium causes a mushroom to protrude from the gourd through the growth aperture enabling cropping of the mushroom.

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.

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.

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 CO.sub.2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O.sub.2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

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 CO.sub.2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O.sub.2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

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 CO.sub.2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O.sub.2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

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 CO.sub.2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O.sub.2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

The invention relates to methods of cultivating ectomycorrhizal fungi, the method comprising incubating ectomycorrhizal MAT1-1 mycelia, ectomycorrhizal MAT1-2 mycelia, and ectomycorrhizal male mycelia in a culture medium for about 1 day to about 50 days, thereby cultivating ectomycorrhizal fungi to produce an ectomycorrhizal fungal biomass comprising MAT1-1 ectomycorrhizal mycelia, MAT1-2 ectomycorrhizal mycelia, and male ectomycorrhizal mycelia. Also provided are methods of use of the ectomycorrhizal mycelial biomass.

The invention relates to methods of cultivating ectomycorrhizal fungi, the method comprising incubating ectomycorrhizal MAT1-1 mycelia, ectomycorrhizal MAT1-2 mycelia, and ectomycorrhizal male mycelia in a culture medium for about 1 day to about 50 days, thereby cultivating ectomycorrhizal fungi to produce an ectomycorrhizal fungal biomass comprising MAT1-1 ectomycorrhizal mycelia, MAT1-2 ectomycorrhizal mycelia, and male ectomycorrhizal mycelia. Also provided are methods of use of the ectomycorrhizal mycelial biomass.

A mycelium-based biocomposite comprising mycelium and a substrate including one or more textiles wherein the mycelium is integrated into the substrate and a method for making a mycelium using one or more textiles as a substrate. Growth of mycelial cells into networks throughout the substrate provide the biocomposite with improved morphological and structural properties.