Myco started his testing with PB-78 by collecting a living culture of the mycelial network and introducing it to a variety of materials.
First, he inoculated a standard set of substrates ranging from rice to manure and soil samples.
PB-78 liked all of his samples. The mystery mushroom rapidly colonized all of the materials with mycelial networks.
Next, Mylo introduced PB-78 to a sample of plastic waste. To his surprise, the mycelial network was able to break down the plastic and convert it into a nutrient-rich soil.
Deciding to pull out the big guns, Mylo introduced the mushroom to heavy metals, including lead and mercury. In a few days the mycelial network removed over 90% of the heavy metals in the sample.
Myco stopped testing. Exactly why was PB-78 not overrunning everything in the Pine Barrens?
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Myna couldn't shake off the feeling that something was missing in their research on PB-78. As she reviewed the data in the original report, she realized that they were missing critical data about the area where the mushroom was collected.
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PB-78's ability to establish symbiotic relationships with trees would be a key factor in its survival and growth in the wild. Without this symbiosis, the mushroom might not thrive in the highly competitive conditions of the Pine Barrens.
She went to the location where they had collected the original sample and examined the trees there. Over the next few days, she collected and examined cores and samples from different parts of three trees as well as from trees away from the collection area. She found that the three trees were healthy and free of parasites. Other trees outside of the collection area were markedly less healthy and contained a typical variety of tree diseases..
She wrote up her findings and returned to ei2o.
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Mac tested PB-78's parasitic traits.
He introduced the mycelial network to a sample of insect larvae and observed that it quickly infected and consumed them. This discovery had potential applications in agriculture, where PB-78 could be used as a natural pest control method. The mushroom completed assimilating all the test insects he had in inventory; he would need to go to Philadelphia and pick up new specimens.
As he looked at one of the caged samples, he noticed that sample had included a small Northern Fence lizard. He reached in to remove it, but stopped. This would be a more complex organism for testing.
The next day, he immediately went to the cage. The lizard was... different. It had no evident eruptions on its flesh like the insects did. It lay quietly at the floor of the cage. Normally lizards seek shelter, but this one did not.
It looked at him and did not look away.
Mac decided that he'd done enough research for the day.