Biofuel production and bioconversion
Researchers assessed whether centrate left from industrial Fusarium venenatum fermentation could supply nutrients for producing additional fungal biomass. After analysing its composition, they created a synthetic equivalent and tested nutrient combinations in 46 runs using Box-Behnken experimental design and response-surface modelling. Biomass yields varied from 0.22 to 3.87 g/L, with glucose and ammonia exerting the largest, nonlinear effects. Optimisation predicted 4.17 g/L and produced 3.99 g/L experimentally. Carbon conversion reached 29.02%, supporting centrate’s use for nutrient recovery and mycoprotein production.
27 September 2026
Fungal Biology and Applications
Filamentous fungi in Europe were reviewed through EFSA safety assessments and recent agri-food applications, with particular attention to Aspergillus. Aspergillus and Trichoderma represented about 70% of fungal safety notifications, chiefly for food-enzyme manufacture and animal-feed additives, respectively. Assessments from 2020–2025 identified hydrolases, especially glycosylases and esterases, as major Aspergillus-derived enzymes used in food processing. The review also covered fungal mycoprotein, bakery ingredients, fermented drinks, and production of aromatic compounds by Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Penicillium, and Fusarium species.
20 August 2026
Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
Researchers heated a mycelium-based ingredient at 60, 75 and 90 °C, then measured purines, microbial counts, texture and colour. The ingredient, supplied by Millow AB, was made by growing Rhizopus oligosporus on oat okara through solid-state fermentation. Treatment at 60 °C lowered hardness, while 75 and 90 °C produced denser structures. Colour changed little, and viable microorganisms were scarce or undetectable. Purine concentrations did not decline at any temperature, indicating that these mild heating conditions cannot lower purines in this product.
11 August 2026