Liquid-state surface fermentation as a platform for pure mycelium materials production
- 1Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Abstract
Liquid-state surface fermentation (LSSF) is emerging as an alternative to submerged and solid-state fermentation for producing pure mycelium materials (PMM), yet a systematic framework linking culture geometry, substrate consumption, inoculum preparation and material properties is lacking. Here, we characterised LSSF with Trametes versicolor across culture volumes and inoculation strategies. The biomass accumulation model described a trade-off between colonisation speed and biomass accumulation. Smaller volumes, with a higher specific interfacial area, colonised the surface earlier and converted glucose more efficiently (up to 0.64 g g-1), but depleted it prematurely and produced less biomass. After pellicle formation, glucose was consumed at a common volumetric rate (~1.0 g L-1 d-1), having glucose availability as a limiting factor for pellicle densification. In deeper cultures, much of the glucose consumed early was not recovered in the pellicle, indicating competition from submerged growth. Backlit transmittance imaging provided a non-destructive estimate of pellicle biomass and of its spatial heterogeneity. Inoculum source and processing determined material performance: liquid-derived inocula and a shaken incubation step increased biomass, an additional blending step produced more homogeneous and stronger pellicles. These results provide process-level design rules for LSSF and a basis for its application to PMM production.
Related
- Integrated fermentation optimization and downstream purification strategies for enhanced monascin and ankaflavin production by Monascus purpureus TST
- Differences in the management of intracellular redox state between wine yeast species dictate their fermentation performances and metabolite production
- In vitro evaluation of bulk and nanosized cumin (Cuminum cyminum) extract on rumen gas production kinetics, methane and carbon dioxide productions, nutrient degradability, and fermentation end-products
- Coupling Stickland fermentation with reverse β-oxidation represents a new mode of medium-chain carboxylate production
- Production and Evaluation of a Forest Litter and Jatropha curcas Cake-Based Biofertilizer Developed through Anaerobic Fermentation
BibTeX
@misc{martin2026liquidstate,
title = {{Liquid-state surface fermentation as a platform for pure mycelium materials production}},
author = {J. Saluena Martin and P. Dimitriadis and S. Attalibi and A. O. Sangosanya and R. Philippini and R. S. Alavijeh and J. Brancart and E. Elsacker and E. Peeters},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.26.761940},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.26.761940v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Liquid-state surface fermentation as a platform for pure mycelium materials production
AU - J. Saluena Martin
AU - P. Dimitriadis
AU - S. Attalibi
AU - A. O. Sangosanya
AU - R. Philippini
AU - R. S. Alavijeh
AU - J. Brancart
AU - E. Elsacker
AU - E. Peeters
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.26.761940
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.26.761940v1
AB - Liquid-state surface fermentation (LSSF) is emerging as an alternative to submerged and solid-state fermentation for producing pure mycelium materials (PMM), yet a systematic framework linking culture geometry, substrate consumption, inoculum preparation and material properties is lacking. Here, we characterised LSSF with Trametes versicolor across culture volumes and inoculation strategies. The biomass accumulation model described a trade-off between colonisation speed and biomass accumulation. Smaller volumes, with a higher specific interfacial area, colonised the surface earlier and converted glucose more efficiently (up to 0.64 g g-1), but depleted it prematurely and produced less biomass. After pellicle formation, glucose was consumed at a common volumetric rate (~1.0 g L-1 d-1), having glucose availability as a limiting factor for pellicle densification. In deeper cultures, much of the glucose consumed early was not recovered in the pellicle, indicating competition from submerged growth. Backlit transmittance imaging provided a non-destructive estimate of pellicle biomass and of its spatial heterogeneity. Inoculum source and processing determined material performance: liquid-derived inocula and a shaken incubation step increased biomass, an additional blending step produced more homogeneous and stronger pellicles. These results provide process-level design rules for LSSF and a basis for its application to PMM production.
ER -