Back to cycle

Back to the cycle

A large part of forest life happens underground. In fact, there would be no trees without other organisms. Mycorrhiza fungi live in symbiosis with trees, providing them with nutrients and better water intake in exchange for energy-containing carbon compounds.

The forest’s carbon cycle consists of photosynthesis binding carbon dioxide from trees and the decomposition of living material. Fungi play an important role in this. Many fungi and polypore species live on dead wood, which is why decaying wood should also be left in felling areas to promote biodiversity. Some fungi species are also harmful to trees, and even though the exact cause of burls is not known, they may be caused by disturbances in growth caused by a fungus.

The species growing on the floor is Ganoderma lucidum. When young, its spore resembles a finger or a horn but becomes shelf-like when it is older. Ganoderma lucidum is a fungus that breaks down wood, and it grows here in sawdust. The Ganoderma lucidum is collected and grown for supplemental nutrition and natural medicine.

We have grown the mushroom here in Science Centre Pilke but got the origin from KÄÄPÄ Biotech.

KÄÄPÄ Biotech is a biotechnology company committed to healthier humans and ecosystems. The company researches, innovates and develops novel industry solutions with fungi.

KÄÄPÄ Biotech has three subdivisions: KÄÄPÄ Forest, KÄÄPÄ Health and Nordic Mushrooms. KÄÄPÄ Forest manages the largest chaga cultivation network in the world and promotes versatile use of forests. KÄÄPÄ Health manages one of Europe’s largest outdoor mushroom farms and produces organic mushroom extracts. Nordic Mushrooms is a wholesale division of Finnish grown organic mushrooms extracts.