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The proposed research offers an integrated methodology fusing material-driven design process with biotechnological tools, to explore the potential of myceliumbased composites as sustainable alternatives in design and architecture applications. The ecological role of saprophytic fungi as organic matter decomposers in is recently harnessed to construct highly porous materials made with regional pruning waste bound by fungal mycelium. This study aims to establish a primary framework to imply mycelium composites in circular production scenarios. According to literature, the physio-mechanical performances of mycelium are affected by parameters such as substrate content, incubation conditions and fabrication process. Our study explores how substrate composition affect mycelium development and derivative material performance. The relations between visual, chemical, and physical properties of mycelium composites were inspected. Results indicate clear variance in material properties of assorted compositions tested. By altering these variables, myceliumbased composites can be inherently modified to suit diverse implications.

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A Tuber melanosporum plantation established in 1994/1995 on Kibbutz Bar'am (in the Upper Galilee, Israel) gradually lost its T. melanosporum mycorrhiza. In 1999, T. aestivum inoculated seedlings were inadvertently introduced into the plantation to fill the gaps between trees. A single T. melanosporum fruit body was found in 1999. Although no truffles were found after 1999 and until 2009, in that year and in 2010, truffles were collected. Morphological and molecular analyses proved these to be T. aestivum. Thus, the intentionally introduced T. melanosporum mycorrhiza was replaced by that of another introduced mycorrhizal fungus, T. aestivum. Local oak species produced higher yields compared to introduced host species known to be good T. melanosporum plant symbionts. The yield was comparable to that reported for young commercial orchards, but the fruiting season was earlier than in Europe.

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