Mycelium expansion methods

Common lab-to-lab transfer paths.

Spore to agar (S2A)

You place spores onto a jelly-like food in a small dish so they can wake up and start growing.

1. Start: Spores are tiny “seeds.”
2. Place: Put a bit of spores on the agar surface.
3. Wait: A small fuzzy spot appears and slowly spreads.

Spore to liquid culture (S2LC)

You add spores to a food-rich liquid so the tiny threads can grow and swirl through the liquid.

1. Start: Spores go into a nutrient liquid.
2. Mix: They wake up and form fine strands.
3. Grow: The liquid becomes cloudy with healthy growth.

Agar to agar (A2A)

You move a clean, healthy piece from one dish to a fresh dish so it can keep spreading.

1. Pick: Choose a clean spot of growth.
2. Move: Transfer a tiny piece to new agar.
3. Expand: It continues growing in the new dish.

Agar to liquid culture (A2LC)

You take a clean bit from a dish and drop it into a food-rich liquid so it can grow throughout the liquid.

1. Select: Find a clean, strong spot on agar.
2. Transfer: Place that tiny piece into the liquid.
3. Grow: Fine strands spread through the liquid.

Liquid culture to agar (LC2A)

You place a drop from the liquid onto a dish so you can see single spots and check cleanliness.

1. Drop: Add a tiny drop to the agar surface.
2. Spread: It forms small growth spots.
3. Choose: Pick the best spot for further work.

Liquid culture to liquid culture (LC2LC)

You move a small amount of healthy liquid into fresh liquid so it can multiply again.

1. Take: Draw a tiny amount from a healthy jar.
2. Add: Put it into a fresh jar of nutrient liquid.
3. Grow: The new jar fills with fine strands.

Tissue cloning

You take a tiny piece from the inside of a clean fruit body and place it on a dish so it can regrow.

1. Find: Choose a healthy fruit body.
2. Take: Remove a tiny inner piece (away from the surface).
3. Place: Put it on agar to grow into a matching culture.