AN OVERVIEW OF TECHNIQUES FOR MUSHROOM CULTIVATION
Techniques for cultivating mushrooms, whatever the species, follow the same basic pattern.
Whereas two species may differ in temperature requirements, pH preferences or the substrate
on which they grow, the steps leading to fruiting are essentially the same. They can be summarized
as follows:
can go one step further and inoculate compost, straw or wood. In either case, the fruiting of mushrooms requires a high humidity environment that can be readily controlled. Without proper moisture, mushrooms don't grow.
In the subsequent chapters standard methods for germinating spores are discussed, followed by
Techniques for growing mycelium on agar, producing grain and/or bran "spawn", preparing composted and non-composted substrates, spawn running, casing and pinhead formation. With this last step the methods for fruiting various species diverge and techniques specific to each mushroom are individually outlined. A trouble-shooting guide helps cultivators identify and solve problems that are commonly encountered. This is followed by a thorough analysis of the contaminants and pests of
mushroom culture and a chapter explaining the nature of mushroom genetics. In all, the book is a
system of knowledge that integrates the various techniques developed by commercial growers
worldwide and makes the cultivation of mushrooms at home a practical endeavor.
MUSHROOMS AND MUSHROOM CULTURE
Mushrooms inspire awe in those encountering them. They seem different. Neither plant-like
nor animal-like, mushrooms have a texture, appearance and manner of growth all their own. Mushrooms represent a small branch in the evolution of the fungal kingdom Eumycota and are commonly known as the "fleshy fungi". In fact, fungi are non-photosynthetic organisms that evolved from algae. The primary role of fungi in the ecosystem is decomposition, one organism in a succession of microbes that break down dead organic matter. And although tens of thousands of fungi are know, mushrooms constitute only a small fraction, amounting to a few thousand species.
Regardless of the species, several steps are universal to the cultivation of all mushrooms. Not
surprisingly, these initial steps directly reflect the life cycle of the mushroom. The role of the cultivator is to isolate a particular mushroom species from the highly competitive natural world and implant it in an environment that gives the mushroom plant a distinct advantage over competing
organisms. The three major steps in the growing of mushrooms parallel three phases in their life cycle.
They are:
Having a basic understanding of the mushroom life cycle greatly aids the learning of techniques
essential to cultivation.
Mushrooms are the fruit of the mushroom plant, the mycelium. A mycelium is a vast network
of interconnected cells that permeates the ground and lives perenially. This resident mycelium only
produces fruitbodies, what are commonly called mushrooms, under optimum conditions of temperature, humidity and nutrition. For the most part, the parent mycelium has but one recourse for insuring the survival of the species: to release enormous numbers of spores. This is accomplished
through the generation of mushrooms.
In the life cycle of the mushroom plant, the fruitbody occurs briefly. The mycelial network can
sit dormant for months, sometimes years and may only produce a single flush of mushrooms. During
those few weeks of fruiting, the mycelium is in a frenzied state of growth, amassing nutrients and
forming dense ball-like masses called primorida that eventually enlarge into the towering mushroom
structure. The gills first develop from the tissue on the underside of the cap, appearing as folds, then becoming blunt ridges and eventually extending into flat, vertically aligned plates. These efficiently arranged symmetrical gills are populated with spore producing cells called basidia.
From a structural point of view, the mushroom is an efficient reproductive body. The cap acts
as a domed shield protecting the underlying gills from the damaging effects of rain, wind and sun.
Covering the gills in many species is a well developed layer of tissue called the partial veil which
extends from the cap margin to the stem. Spores start falling from the gills just before the partial veil
tears. After the partial veil has fallen, spores are projected from the gills in ever increasing numbers.
Techniques for cultivating mushrooms, whatever the species, follow the same basic pattern.
Whereas two species may differ in temperature requirements, pH preferences or the substrate
on which they grow, the steps leading to fruiting are essentially the same. They can be summarized
as follows:
- Preparation and pouring of agar media into petri dishes.
- Germination of spores and isolation of pure mushroom mycelium.
- Expansion of mycelial mass on agar media.
- Preparation of grain media.
- Inoculation of grain media with pure mycelium grown on agar media.
- Incubation of inoculated grain media (spawn).
- A. Laying out grain spawn onto trays, or
B. Inoculation of grain spawn into bulk substrates. - Casing—covering of substrate with a moist mixture of peat and other materials.
- Initiation—lowering temperature, increasing humidity to 95%, increasing air circulation,
- decreasing carbon dioxide and/or introducing light.
- Cropping—maintaining temperature, lowering humidity to 85-92%, maintaining air circulation,
- carbon dioxide and/or light levels.
can go one step further and inoculate compost, straw or wood. In either case, the fruiting of mushrooms requires a high humidity environment that can be readily controlled. Without proper moisture, mushrooms don't grow.
In the subsequent chapters standard methods for germinating spores are discussed, followed by
Techniques for growing mycelium on agar, producing grain and/or bran "spawn", preparing composted and non-composted substrates, spawn running, casing and pinhead formation. With this last step the methods for fruiting various species diverge and techniques specific to each mushroom are individually outlined. A trouble-shooting guide helps cultivators identify and solve problems that are commonly encountered. This is followed by a thorough analysis of the contaminants and pests of
mushroom culture and a chapter explaining the nature of mushroom genetics. In all, the book is a
system of knowledge that integrates the various techniques developed by commercial growers
worldwide and makes the cultivation of mushrooms at home a practical endeavor.
MUSHROOMS AND MUSHROOM CULTURE
Mushrooms inspire awe in those encountering them. They seem different. Neither plant-like
nor animal-like, mushrooms have a texture, appearance and manner of growth all their own. Mushrooms represent a small branch in the evolution of the fungal kingdom Eumycota and are commonly known as the "fleshy fungi". In fact, fungi are non-photosynthetic organisms that evolved from algae. The primary role of fungi in the ecosystem is decomposition, one organism in a succession of microbes that break down dead organic matter. And although tens of thousands of fungi are know, mushrooms constitute only a small fraction, amounting to a few thousand species.
Regardless of the species, several steps are universal to the cultivation of all mushrooms. Not
surprisingly, these initial steps directly reflect the life cycle of the mushroom. The role of the cultivator is to isolate a particular mushroom species from the highly competitive natural world and implant it in an environment that gives the mushroom plant a distinct advantage over competing
organisms. The three major steps in the growing of mushrooms parallel three phases in their life cycle.
They are:
- Spore collection, spore germination and isolation of mycelium; or tissue cloning.
- Preparation of inoculum by the expansion of mycelial mass on enriched agar media and
then on grain. Implantation of grain spawn into composted and uncomposted substrates or
the use of grain as a fruiting substrate. - Fruitbody (mushroom) initiation and development.
Having a basic understanding of the mushroom life cycle greatly aids the learning of techniques
essential to cultivation.
Mushrooms are the fruit of the mushroom plant, the mycelium. A mycelium is a vast network
of interconnected cells that permeates the ground and lives perenially. This resident mycelium only
produces fruitbodies, what are commonly called mushrooms, under optimum conditions of temperature, humidity and nutrition. For the most part, the parent mycelium has but one recourse for insuring the survival of the species: to release enormous numbers of spores. This is accomplished
through the generation of mushrooms.
In the life cycle of the mushroom plant, the fruitbody occurs briefly. The mycelial network can
sit dormant for months, sometimes years and may only produce a single flush of mushrooms. During
those few weeks of fruiting, the mycelium is in a frenzied state of growth, amassing nutrients and
forming dense ball-like masses called primorida that eventually enlarge into the towering mushroom
structure. The gills first develop from the tissue on the underside of the cap, appearing as folds, then becoming blunt ridges and eventually extending into flat, vertically aligned plates. These efficiently arranged symmetrical gills are populated with spore producing cells called basidia.
From a structural point of view, the mushroom is an efficient reproductive body. The cap acts
as a domed shield protecting the underlying gills from the damaging effects of rain, wind and sun.
Covering the gills in many species is a well developed layer of tissue called the partial veil which
extends from the cap margin to the stem. Spores start falling from the gills just before the partial veil
tears. After the partial veil has fallen, spores are projected from the gills in ever increasing numbers.
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