Fungi in Food + Culture

Question 1

What is baker’s yeast used in?

Answer 1

Alcohol fermentation and in baking

Question 2

What does S. cerevisiae do?

Answer 2

Fermentation of glucose and other sugars via pyruvic acid into ethanol and CO2

Beer = ethanol; bread = CO2

Question 3

How is citric acid produced in practice?

Answer 3

Via submerged fermentation can batch fermentation is typically used

Surface fermentation can also be used

Yields = 70-75%

China = largest production, exports, and consumption

Question 4

What fungus does the fungal protein Quorn use?

Answer 4

Fusaroum venenatum (ascomycete)

Question 5

How are enzymes produced by fungi most often made?

Answer 5

With liquid fermentation; solid state is also feasible

Question 6

How can fungi be used in textiles?

Answer 6

Detergents: proteinases, lipases, amylases

Cellulases: for color brightening and restoration

Question 7

How can fungi be used to treat textiles?

Answer 7

Bioprocessing of stone-washed jeans and other textile effects = biostoning

Loose fibers removed through enzymatic washes

Cellulases among most commonly used enzymes

Question 8

How are fungi used in food preparation?

Answer 8

Enzymes such as pectinases, cellulases, and hemicellulases are used to increase yields of fruit for juices; polygalacturonase, pectin transeliminase and hemicellulose are used for clarification

Question 9

How many fungal pesticides are there?

Answer 9

Over 170 commercial produces based on 12 fungal species

Question 10

What are the traditional uses of fungi?

Answer 10

Preparing Bryoria as food

Tlingit wall pockets made out of mycelial mats

19th century shaman grave guardians

Question 11

What are the religious uses of fungi?

Answer 11

Religious uses of psychedelics are well documented in Mesoamerican and Northern Eurasian cultures