[Tastebridge] interest in mycoremediation?

[Nevada M.]

Hey folks,

I've been following all the conversations on the listserv about the various
mushroom/fungus projects, and I was wondering if folks on the listserv are
also interested in/knowledgeable about mycoremediation...  I know the
listserv is "taste"bridge, but the traffic on here seems to be pretty
fungus-friendly all-around.  If you haven't heard of it, mycoremediation is
the process of using fungus to digest the long hydrocarbon chains (of oil,
this time, instead of plant lignins) that contaminate oil spill sites and so
forth.  I've also heard that fungus can bind heavy metals into inert forms
that are no longer poisonous to life -- though I don't know any of the
science behind that claim.

I probably won't have time to start up any projects along these lines, but
if folks are interested, I might be able to find some how-to type resources.
 The radical mycology conference that happened in Washington in early
September focused primarily on DIY techniques for mycoremediation --
cultivating spawn, applying spawn to affected land, etc. without relying on
lots of huge, expensive machinery or other hi-tech equipment.  I could get
in touch with the conference organizers and see if they have any info they
could send along.

You can see some pictures on this page over at Fungi Perfecti of oyster
mushrooms growing on petroleum-contaminated soil; the petroleum is just long
hydrocarbon chains, same as the plant lignins the fungus usually eats, so
you can see how the fungus fruits like crazy because all the oil is only so
much extra food:
http://www.fungi.com/mycotech/petroleum_problem.html

Best,


Nevada
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