With a sterile space to work in, I was able to start inoculating. For my initial tests I wanted to look at how the mushrooms would respond to different fibers, including bamboo/copper and wool/steel thread, and woven swatches of wool, merino wool, and a rayon/cotton blend. The first step was to prepare the agar medium for my cultures to grow in.
Taking the following ingredients, stir over medium high heat (without going over 200F) for 10 minutes. 1 Liter Water 22 g agar 20 g barley malt 1 g gypsum The medium was then poured into a mason jar, covered with tin foil, and set into the sterilizer along with the vessels, and textiles to be tested. They were sterilized at a little over 15 PSI for 45 minutes and allowed to cool before introducing living culture. |
I chose to begin testing using Hypsizygus ulmarius and Trametes versicolor, and cut small pieces from my existing agar culture to inoculate the new trials. The dishes were then sealed and kept in a grow tent at room temperature. After 7 days of growth, all three textile swatches were showing significant growth, particularly the rayon/cotton blend. The Hypsizygus showed some growth on bamboo/copper, but Trametes showed little to no growth on either metallic fiber.
Left to Right: Hypsizygus ulmarius + merino wool; Trametes versicolor + rayon/cotton; Trametes versicolor + bamboo/copper