| Summary: | In this study, for the first time, the potential of rose flowers and lavender straw waste biomass was studied as feeding lignocellulose substrates for the cultivation of newly isolated in Bulgaria <i>Ganoderma resinaceum</i> GA1M with the objective of obtaining mycelium<i>-</i>based bio<i>-</i>composites. The chemical characterization and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy established that the proximate composition of steam distilled lavender straw (SDLS) and hexane extracted rose flowers (HERF) was a serious prerequisite supporting the self<i>-</i>growth of mycelium bio<i>-</i>materials with improved antibacterial and aromatic properties. The basic physico<i>-</i>mechanical properties of the developed bio<i>-</i>composites were determined. The apparent density of the mycelium HERF<i>-</i>based bio<i>-</i>composites (462 kg/m<sup>3</sup>) was higher than that of the SDLS<i>-</i>based bio<i>-</i>composite (347 kg/m<sup>3</sup>) and both were much denser than expanded polystyren (EPS), lighter than medium<i>-</i>density fiber board (MDF) and oriented strand board (OSB) and similar to hempcrete. The preliminary testing of their compressive behavior revealed that the compressive resistance of SDLS<i>-</i>based bio<i>-</i>composite was 718 kPa, while for HERF<i>-</i>based bio<i>-</i>composite it was 1029 kPa and both values are similar to the compressive strength of hempcrete with similar apparent density. Water absorbance analysis showed, that both mycelium HERF<i>-</i> and SDLS<i>-</i>based bio<i>-</i>composites were hydrophilic and further investigations are needed to limit the hydrophilicity of the lignocellulose fibers, to tune the density and to improve compressive resistance.
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