Comparison and characterization of mycelium-based composites (MBCs) produced by the fungus Trametes coccinea and softwoods and hardwood sawdust

Felipe Galleguillos; Allan  Bascuñán-Heredia; Cristian  Riquelme; Lulia  Latco; Sergio  Radic-Schilling

doi:10.30550/j.lil/2421

Authors

Felipe Galleguillos Laboratorio de Química de Productos Naturales, Departamento de Botánica, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Concepción, Biobío, Chile. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0374-6161
Allan Bascuñán-Heredia Laboratorio de Química de Productos Naturales, Departamento de Botánica, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Concepción, Biobío, Chile. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0459-2144
Cristian Riquelme Laboratorio de Química de Productos Naturales, Departamento de Botánica, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Concepción, Biobío, Chile. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1652-571X
Lulia Latco Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology of Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0757-7884
Sergio Radic-Schilling Departamento de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Acuícolas, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1812-9235

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30550/j.lil/2421

Keywords:

Composites, materials, mycelium

Abstract

There is a growing demand for materials of biological origin, particularly those derived from organic waste and filamentous fungi, known as mycelium-based composites (MBCs). This study evaluates the production of MBCs using sawdust from Pinus radiata, Nothofagus obliqua, and Fitzroya cupressoides in combination with a filamentous fungus identified as Trametes coccinea based on its rDNA ITS region. Microstructure, chemical composition, and mechanical and physical properties of the composites were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), compressive strength testing, standardized hardness testing, and FTIR spectroscopy. The results confirmed mycelial penetration at different structural levels within the substrates. The highest-performing MBC was obtained from F. cupressoides, with a Janka hardness of 0.111 kN and a compressive strength of 0.271 MPa. T. coccinea exhibited enhanced lignocellulolytic degradation efficiency in softwoods, likely associated with its enzymatic adaptability to guaiacyl-rich lignin and substrate anatomical features that favored colonization. The resulting biocomposites display properties comparable to synthetic materials and demonstrate strong potential for scalability.

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