Methods of propagating Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) are described that do not require the addition of, or presence of, any detectable live host plant material or live plant root material. The method comprises addition of water and optionally exposure to sunlight. It was surprisingly found that soil devoid of any detectable live host plant material, including host plant roots, is capable of supporting AMF reproduction, though it is widely believed that AMF are obligate symbionts requiring live plant roots for colonization to reproduce. Described methods optionally include active removal of living host plant material from the soil prior to AMF inoculation. Optionally, phosphorous compounds are added to the soil prior to inoculation. It was found that addition of phosphorous compounds, such as phosphite, to the soil enhances the growth of AMF spores by as much as three-fold over controls having no added phosphorous compounds.

Methods of propagating Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) are described that do not require the addition of, or presence of, any detectable live host plant material or live plant root material. The method comprises addition of water and optionally exposure to sunlight. It was surprisingly found that soil devoid of any detectable live host plant material, including host plant roots, is capable of supporting AMF reproduction, though it is widely believed that AMF are obligate symbionts requiring live plant roots for colonization to reproduce. Described methods optionally include active removal of living host plant material from the soil prior to AMF inoculation. Optionally, phosphorous compounds are added to the soil prior to inoculation. It was found that addition of phosphorous compounds, such as phosphite, to the soil enhances the growth of AMF spores by as much as three-fold over controls having no added phosphorous compounds.

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.

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.

A plant system (100), comprising a plurality of plants (102) in a substrate (101); a mycorrhizal fungal community (104) in the substrate arranged to form a biological interface with roots of the plants enabling an exchange of chemical substances between the fungus and the plurality of plants; and at least a sensor (207), which interfaces with said mycorrhizal fungal community and is configured to collect sensory information about a physiological condition and phenotypic state of said plurality of plants.

A plant system (100), comprising a plurality of plants (102) in a substrate (101); a mycorrhizal fungal community (104) in the substrate arranged to form a biological interface with roots of the plants enabling an exchange of chemical substances between the fungus and the plurality of plants; and at least a sensor (207), which interfaces with said mycorrhizal fungal community and is configured to collect sensory information about a physiological condition and phenotypic state of said plurality of plants.

A device and a method for breeding blueberry-specific mycorrhizal fungi. The device includes a container, where a bottom of the container is laid with perlite to form a perlite layer; an absorbent cotton is arranged on the perlite layer; a hole for planting is provided in the absorbent cotton and blueberry tissue culture seedlings or moss seedlings are placed in the hole; and a spore transfer solution is provided around the blueberry tissue culture seedlings or moss seedlings. When used as a bacterial fertilizer for inoculation in the field, the pieces of absorbent cotton are buried directly around the blueberry roots; while used for research, one of the pieces of the absorbent cotton is washed with sterile water and filtered with a filter paper to obtain mycorrhizal fungi spores.

A device and a method for breeding blueberry-specific mycorrhizal fungi. The device includes a container, where a bottom of the container is laid with perlite to form a perlite layer; an absorbent cotton is arranged on the perlite layer; a hole for planting is provided in the absorbent cotton and blueberry tissue culture seedlings or moss seedlings are placed in the hole; and a spore transfer solution is provided around the blueberry tissue culture seedlings or moss seedlings. When used as a bacterial fertilizer for inoculation in the field, the pieces of absorbent cotton are buried directly around the blueberry roots; while used for research, one of the pieces of the absorbent cotton is washed with sterile water and filtered with a filter paper to obtain mycorrhizal fungi spores.

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.

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.