Liquid-state surface fermentation as a platform for pure mycelium materials production

Liquid-state surface fermentation of Trametes versicolor shows a geometry-driven trade-off: smaller volumes colonize earlier and convert glucose more efficiently (up to 0.64 g g-1) but deplete it sooner and yield less biomass.

• Why it matters: A systematic framework is missing for linking LSSF culture geometry, inoculum preparation, substrate consumption, and resulting pure mycelium material properties.
• What they did: LSSF was characterized across culture volumes and inoculation strategies, using a biomass accumulation model, glucose/pellicle densification tracking, and backlit transmittance imaging to estimate pellicle biomass and spatial heterogeneity.
• The result: After pellicle formation, glucose was consumed at a common volumetric rate (~1.0 g L-1 d-1) and limited densification; deeper cultures lost early glucose to submerged growth, while liquid-derived inocula plus shaking increased biomass and blending produced more homogeneous, stronger pellicles.