A Lattice-Free Model Of Translocation-Induced Outgrowth In Fungal Mycelia

Fungal mycelia occupy a central role in nutrient cycling and are widely used in biological control and remediation. In these settings, fungi form complex networks that develop in heterogeneous environments by uptaking nutrients from regions of local scarcity. In this work a novel mathematical model of mycelial growth is described that explicitly incorporates the irregular branched and interconnected nature of the mycelium and stimulates the flow of internally-located material. The model is applied to a simple experimental configuration, representing mycelia growth from an isolated nutrient supply, and it is shown that a basic measurement of the developing network directly relates to the transportation mechanisms used by mycelia fungi.