A Swiss researcher said Thursday he had hit on an unlikely way of recreating the unique sound of a Stradivarius violin -- by treating the wood of a replica instrument with mushrooms.

Francis Schwarze of the Zurich-based Federal Materials, Science and Technology Institute (EMPA), made a replica of a violin by the Italian master Antonio Stradivari from the year 1698, which was presented this week at the `Swiss Innovation Forum` in Basel.

Schwarze found that treating the maple wood used for the violin with `Xylaria longipes` mushrooms -- which grow on the bark of trees -- meant the sound quality was akin to an original Strad.

This mushroom lightly `nibbles` away at the wood`s surface, thus reducing its density and improving the sound of the violin as a result.

`It has a very good sound and also carries well,` violin maker Michael Rhonheimer said of the replica.

`I am convinced that the wood treatment at the EMPA has made an audible improvement.`