Today’s show is all about spalting fungi and its unique mycology. This time, we are joined by THE expert, Dr. Seri Robinson, who has been studying the phenomena for over a decade. Aside from spalting’s unique mycology, we discuss the auspicious applications of these fungi and their metabolites.

Seri is an artist and Professor of wood anatomy at Oregon State University. They were introduced to spalted woods through wood working, quickly discovering the lack of information about the phenomena, and therefore pioneering a new subfield of science.

Topics Covered:

A look into Dr. Seri Robinson’s life as an artist and scientist, and their unconventional path to studying spalted woods
The history and urban legends of spalted wood
Defining spalted wood and spalting fungi
Specific environmental conditions for spalting fungi
How to spalt wood in the lab
Ecology of fungal pigments
Function of fungal pigments, especially fungal melanin
Decay stages of fungi and how that affects wood spalting
How to extract the spalting pigment
Chlorociboria’s pigments and it’s impressive applications
Wood anatomy and how fungi are influenced by their substrates

Show notes:

Spalting Cooperative Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/spalting
Northern Spatling: https://www.northernspalting.com/
Spalted Wood Book: https://www.amazon.com/Spalted-Wood-History-Science-Material/dp/0764350382/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=0764350382&psc=1
Spalting 101 Book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spalting-101-dr-seri-c-robinson/1137088019?ean=9780764360893
Publication on zone line mycology: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127521000332
Xylindein pigment research: https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/fungi-produced-pigment-shows-promise-semiconductor-material

Spalting Fungi, Pigment Ecology & Wood A...