A mycological biopolymer product consisting entirely of fungal mycelium is made by inoculating a nutritive substrate with a selected fungus in a sealed environment except for a void space, which space is subsequently filled with a network of undifferentiated fungal mycelium. The environmental conditions for producing the mycological biopolymer product, i.e. a high carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) content (from 5% to 7% by volume) and an elevated temperature (from 85° F. to 95° F.), prevent full differentiation of the fungus into a mushroom. There are no stipe, cap, or spores produced. The biopolymer product grows into the void space of the tool, filling the space with an undifferentiated mycelium chitin-polymer, which is subsequently extracted from the substrate and dried.

A mycological biopolymer product consisting entirely of fungal mycelium is made by inoculating a nutritive substrate with a selected fungus in a sealed environment except for a void space, which space is subsequently filled with a network of undifferentiated fungal mycelium. The environmental conditions for producing the mycological biopolymer product, i.e. a high carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) content (from 5% to 7% by volume) and an elevated temperature (from 85° F. to 95° F.), prevent full differentiation of the fungus into a mushroom. There are no stipe, cap, or spores produced. The biopolymer product grows into the void space of the tool, filling the space with an undifferentiated mycelium chitin-polymer, which is subsequently extracted from the substrate and dried.

Cultivation systems including a cultivation substrate configured to retain and viably maintain spores and germinated spores are disclosed. The cultivation systems may include one or more of a nutrient phase, an adhesive, a bioactive agent, a liquid containing phase. The cultivation substrates may be patterned. The cultivation systems may specifically retain and viably retain specific spore types.

Cultivation systems including a cultivation substrate configured to retain and viably maintain spores and germinated spores are disclosed. The cultivation systems may include one or more of a nutrient phase, an adhesive, a bioactive agent, a liquid containing phase. The cultivation substrates may be patterned. The cultivation systems may specifically retain and viably retain specific spore types.

The invention relates to methods of cultivating ectomycorrhizal fungi, the method comprising incubating ectomy corrhizal 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 ectomy corrhizal 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.

Provided is an activator for a growth medium used for artificial cultivation of mushrooms, and the activator is used in a growth medium for mushroom artificial cultivation and improves and stabilizes the yield. The activator for a mushroom growth medium includes, as antacid inorganic substances, aluminum, calcium, and magnesium. By changing the proportion of each element, the neutralization function is adjusted. By adding a small amount of the activator, an optimum cultivation pH for an intended type of mushroom is achieved, and the optimum cultivation pH can be maintained.

Provided is an activator for a growth medium used for artificial cultivation of mushrooms, and the activator is used in a growth medium for mushroom artificial cultivation and improves and stabilizes the yield. The activator for a mushroom growth medium includes, as antacid inorganic substances, aluminum, calcium, and magnesium. By changing the proportion of each element, the neutralization function is adjusted. By adding a small amount of the activator, an optimum cultivation pH for an intended type of mushroom is achieved, and the optimum cultivation pH can be maintained.

Biointerfaces configured to retain and viably maintain non-mammalian cells are disclosed. The biointerfaces may include one or more of a nutrient phase, an adhesive, a bioactive agent, a liquid containing phase. The biointerfaces may be patterned. The biointerfaces may specifically retain and viably retain specific non mammalian cell types such as spores of seaweed. The biointerfaces are used for growing seaweed such as dulse and kelp.

Biointerfaces configured to retain and viably maintain non-mammalian cells are disclosed. The biointerfaces may include one or more of a nutrient phase, an adhesive, a bioactive agent, a liquid containing phase. The biointerfaces may be patterned. The biointerfaces may specifically retain and viably retain specific non mammalian cell types such as spores of seaweed. The biointerfaces are used for growing seaweed such as dulse and kelp.