Spalting Fungi, Pigment Ecology & Wood Anatomy - Dr. Seri Robinson

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

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