Understanding the Differences: Mycelium vs. Fruiting Body

Mushrooms are fascinating organisms that play a crucial role in nature. They are neither plants nor animals; they belong to the biological kingdom of Fungi! While most people visualize mushrooms as the cap and stem seen growing above ground or neatly packaged in the supermarket, this visible part is just the tip of the iceberg. To truly understand mushrooms, we need to explore their two main components: the mycelium and the fruiting body.

So, What is Mycelium?

Imagine strolling through an apple orchard. The trees are rooted in the ground, their roots spreading far and wide, while their leaves dance in the breeze. These roots provide essential nutrients and water, while the leaves collect energy from the sun. Similarly, the mycelium acts as the root-like system of a mushroom. It’s a vast, web-like network of fine, thread-like structures called hyphae that spread through soil, wood, or other organic material to collect nutrients and energy for the mushroom.

Mycelium is the primary body of the fungi, typically hidden from view as it grows underground or within decaying trees. This network can cover vast areas and sometimes persists for many years, even decades.

(In fact, the largest organism on the planet is a fungus nicknamed “Humongous Fungus” in the Oregon Blue Mountains, potentially up to 8,000 years old! Its mycelium network is estimated to cover over 3.5 square miles and weigh 35,000 pounds—how cool is that?!)

Mycelium absorbs nutrients from the environment by breaking down organic matter and recycling it back into the ecosystem, benefiting trees and other plants. This process makes mycelium crucial for soil health and nutrient cycles. Without it, dead plant and animal matter would accumulate, disrupting ecosystem balance.

The Fruiting Body: The Apple of Your Eye

Now for the tasty part: Using our apple tree analogy, the fruiting body is like the apple fruit itself. The fruiting body is the mushroom’s reproductive structure. Its primary function is to produce and release spores, akin to plant seeds. Just as the apple is produced when conditions are right for the tree, the fruiting body forms when the mycelium has gathered sufficient nutrients and energy. It then concentrates these resources into the delicious cap and stem we recognize.

Like how apples contain seeds to grow new trees, the mushroom's fruiting body holds spores in its cap, which can be dispersed by animals or the wind to new locations, where they can germinate and develop into new mycelium networks.

 

Uses and Benefits

Both parts of the mushroom have long been utilized for various purposes. Studies suggest that mycelium offers numerous health benefits and contains compounds that support the immune system. Additionally, mycelium has potential in bioremediation—using organisms to clean up environmental pollutants, like oil spills. It breaks down harmful substances, making it a valuable tool for environmental conservation. However, because the mushroom concentrates nutrients in the fruiting body, it also means that pollutants can be concentrated there. Thus, it's crucial to ensure mushrooms are grown in a clean and organic environment.

Mycelium is also being explored for use in sustainable materials. Mycelium-based products can serve as biodegradable packaging, building materials, and even leather substitutes. These innovations could reduce our reliance on non-renewable resources and minimize waste.

The fruiting body is renowned for its culinary and medicinal uses and is generally more nutrient-dense than mycelium, particularly in beta-glucans. Many mushroom species (such as Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Chaga, Reishi, Shiitake, and Maitake) are edible and packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins. They are also valued for their medicinal properties, including benefits for cognitive function, immune support, inflammation reduction, and even cancer-fighting potential.

Why We Use Only 100% Fruiting Body

The mushroom industry is still evolving, and there isn’t a universal standard for ingredient terms yet. However, here's a clarification of these terms in the context of supplements and food products:

• 100% Fruiting Body: Contains only the fruiting body of the mushroom.
• Mycelium: Contains only the mycelium of the mushroom.
• Full Spectrum: Includes both mycelium and fruiting body.

To reiterate:

Think of the mushroom as an apple tree:

• Mycelium is like the tree’s entire structure (leaves, branches, trunk, and roots). Its main role is to grow and absorb nutrients.
• Fruiting Body is like the apple fruit and seeds. Its purpose is to store nutrients and reproduce.

Imagine trying to uproot or repot a tree. The roots cling tightly to the soil, making separation difficult. Similarly, when mycelium colonizes its growing medium (often oats or rice in controlled environments), it wraps around it so tightly that separating the mycelium from the substrate is nearly impossible.

In the wild, mycelium grows in soil, making it impractical for products since the soil cannot be fully separated. At mushroom farms, controlled substrates like oats or rice are used. When mycelium fully colonizes this substrate, it can then fruit, producing familiar caps and stems. For instance, a 5-pound grow kit of Lion’s Mane Mushroom might yield about 2 pounds of fruiting body, representing a 40% yield.

If mycelium is traditionally processed, dried, and ground into a supplement, it will contain some of the growing medium, which isn’t ideal for high-quality products.

A “Full Spectrum” product could include the growing medium, mycelium, and fruiting body. Using our apple tree analogy, this would be like pulling up the tree with its roots, soil, and apple fruit, and grinding them all together. For a 5-pound grow kit of Lion’s Mane, you might get 5 pounds of mycelium and growing medium and 2 pounds of fruiting body, totaling 7 pounds. This would result in a full-spectrum supplement with approximately 29% fruiting body.

 

 

 

At Mycowave, we use only 100% USDA Organic Fruiting Body because it is up to 30% more mineral and nutrient-dense compared to mycelium. Although this approach is more time-consuming and expensive, we believe the higher quality is worth the cost, ensuring you receive the best product without concerns about its contents.

If a product you're considering doesn't specify these terms, it likely uses only mushroom mycelium. Be sure to ask the company about their ingredients before making a purchase!

Now that you understand the differences between Fruiting Body, Mycelium, and Full Spectrum, you can confidently choose the right mushroom products for your needs!