// Definition
Application of near-infrared spectroscopy to measure psilocybin and total alkaloid content in psychedelic mushrooms, enabling rapid potency screening and selective breeding of high-psilocybin cultivars without destroying the sample.
// From the Episode
Reuben Valenveras describes developing mushroom NIR models with his partner Santiago who runs a psilocybin breeding company in Denver. He found 10x variation in psilocybin content between visually identical mushrooms (0.2% vs 2.4%). The model detects psilocybin (not psilocin, which is too volatile), PCB (total tryptamine content), and baecystin. The mushroom model was still in development during the episode but expected to launch by end of year.