Mycology is the study of fungi, which are an incredibly diverse group of organisms that play important roles in ecosystems and human society. As a mycology lover, I'm happy to provide a glossary of some of the most common terms and concepts in the field.
Substrate: The substance on which fungi grow. Substrates can be living or non-living, and can include wood, soil, dung, and decaying organic matter.
Mycelium: The mass of hyphae that make up the body of a fungus. Mycelium can be small and localized, or can grow to cover large areas.
Spores: Reproductive cells produced by fungi. Spores can be dispersed by wind, water, or animals, and can germinate under favorable conditions to form new fungal colonies.
Mushroom: The visible fruiting body of a fungus. Mushrooms can be found above or below ground and can vary greatly in size, shape, and color.
Culture: A collection of living fungal cells that have been grown on a nutrient medium in a laboratory setting. Cultures can be used for research, identification, and cultivation of mushrooms.
Sterilize: The process of killing all living organisms on a surface or in a substance. Sterilization is important in mycology for preventing contamination of cultures and substrates.
Pasteurize: The process of heating a substance to a specific temperature and holding it there for a set amount of time to kill certain microorganisms. Pasteurization is commonly used in mycology for preparing substrates for mushroom cultivation.
Spawn: Fungal mycelium that has been transferred to a new substrate to start a new colony. Spawn can be used to inoculate substrates for mushroom cultivation.
SMS/ Spent Mushroom Substrate: This term relates to the growing media used in mushroom production once this media has been drained of all its nutrients / water.
This can be used as spawn for growing in mulch beds, because it is spent it is ideal for gardening as it is less attractive to rodents.
Fruiting body: The part of a fungus that produces spores for reproduction. Fruiting bodies can take many forms, including mushrooms, puffballs, and bracket fungi.
Mycorrhizae: A mutualistic association between fungi and the roots of plants. Mycorrhizal fungi help plants absorb nutrients from the soil, while the plants provide the fungi with carbohydrates.
Hyphae: Thin, thread-like structures that make up the body of a fungus. Hyphae grow by extending at their tips and branching out, forming a network of filaments that can penetrate substrates and absorb nutrients.
Lichen: A symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner, usually an algae or a cyanobacterium. Lichens can grow in a variety of habitats and are important indicators of air quality and ecosystem health.
These are just a few of the many terms and concepts in mycology, but understanding them is essential for anyone interested in fungi and their role in the world around us.