Our research on Fungi

Fungi are incredibly important parts of every ecosystem. They break down and repurpose what would otherwise be wasted. Fungi are especially important in forested environments, like our area of North Carolina. The fungi we've chosen to test are not invasive and are safe to use in our local environment.

Fungi are a unique type of organisms, mostly closely related to animals. They take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide, like we do. They grow on dying plant or animal life and chemically break it down to gain energy. A mushroom is the reproductive organ of a basidiomycete (a large class of fungi). Some fungi live inside plants, some have tails to swim, and some launch projectiles high into the air.

We've researched how fungi can be grown quickly and safely in a home/industrial environment. Fungi must be cultivated at high humidity, and varying (but specific) temperatures. Most require steady airflow, but must be sealed so as not to become contaminated.

Pleurotus ostreatus, or the oyster mushroom, is a commonly eaten mushroom that also degrades some of the most common types of plastic. It's commercially available for around $15, and grows quickly. We're currently culturing this fungus in the Carter Lab on UNC Charlotte's campus.