Shedding light on the potential of mycelium materials as ELM

Mycelium materials are gaining traction as sustainable alternatives to conventional materials (e.g., leather, polyesters, building materials) due to their versatility and novel range of properties. Either latent or alive, these whole-cell materials hold the capacity to react to their environment, stemming from the sentient nature of fungi. Certain biological responses like asexual spore formation or pigmentation can be of interest for in vivo applications of these materials. However, the lack of control on how to trigger these physiological responses on demand hampers the development of mycelium materials as ELM. Light could help bridge this gap as an engineerable abiotic factor and a critical parameter in the induction of native processes.

In this study, we aim to unravel the effects of different electromagnetic wavelengths on Trametes versicolor and Schizophyllum commune mycelium. Preliminary results showed that biomass formation was correlated with culture pH at harvest, with irradiance being of crucial importance. Additionally, UV wavelength exhibited photomasking effects on the mycelium mats. Cultures were grown under different light conditions and resulting phenotypes will be compared with RNAseq data. Completing these results with phenotypical assessments will provide a comprehensive framework to untangle the implication of physiological responses to light during the material's lifespan.