John Miller
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that require oxygen to survive. They absorb oxygen from the air and emit carbon dioxide, a process similar to human respiration. Unlike plants, mushrooms lack the ability to photosynthesize, so they do not produce oxygen. Additionally, excess carbon dioxide can negatively impact mushroom growth, leading to deformed shapes. Therefore, maintaining adequate oxygen levels and controlling carbon dioxide concentrations are crucial for cultivating healthy mushrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do mushrooms need oxygen? | Yes, mushrooms absorb oxygen from the air and emit carbon dioxide. |
| Do mushrooms use carbon dioxide? | No, mushrooms do not use carbon dioxide for development and growth. However, carbon dioxide monitoring is important during the pinning stage of mushroom growth. |
| Do mushrooms respire? | Yes, mushrooms take up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide. |
| Do mushrooms need ventilation? | Yes, ventilation is needed to ensure mushrooms have enough oxygen and to prevent an excess of carbon dioxide, which can affect the shape of the mushroom cap. |
| Do mushrooms produce water vapour? | Yes, mushrooms produce a lot of water vapour and need moist air to grow. |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms absorb oxygen and emit carbon dioxide
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that require oxygen to survive. They absorb oxygen and emit carbon dioxide, a process known as respiration. This is similar to the respiratory process in humans. However, unlike humans and other organisms that rely on photosynthesis, mushrooms do not produce oxygen. Instead, they absorb oxygen from the air, along with other gases present, to carry out their vital processes.
The process of respiration in mushrooms is crucial for their growth and development. During this process, mushrooms take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide, as well as moisture in the form of water vapour. Maintaining the right balance of gases is essential for optimal mushroom growth. In natural environments, mushrooms obtain the necessary oxygen from the air, which typically contains at least 21% oxygen.
In controlled environments, such as mushroom farms, monitoring carbon dioxide levels is of utmost importance. High carbon dioxide levels can affect the shape of mushroom caps, causing deformities. To prevent this, growers often use ventilation systems to remove excess carbon dioxide and maintain adequate oxygen levels. During the pinning stage of mushroom growth, when the mycelium forms hyphal knots, carbon dioxide levels should be maintained between 1,200 and 1,500 ppm to ensure proper stem development.
Additionally, the respiration process in mushrooms can be harnessed for food preservation. Ancient Chinese documents describe a technique where litchi fruits were sealed in clay pots with leaves and grasses. During transportation, the respiration of the contents created a high carbon dioxide, low oxygen environment, slowing the ripening of the litchis. However, caution must be exercised as low-oxygen environments can also foster the growth of dangerous microorganisms like Clostridium botulinum.
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Oyster mushrooms need ventilation to remove carbon dioxide
Oyster mushrooms are the fruit of a fungus. Like other fungi, they require oxygen to grow. They respire like humans, taking in oxygen and producing carbon dioxide. Therefore, oyster mushrooms need ventilation to remove carbon dioxide.
Oyster mushrooms do not have the process of photosynthesis, so they do not use carbon dioxide for their development and growth. An excess of carbon dioxide affects the shape of the oyster mushroom cap, resulting in deformation. The mushroom stretches its stem to escape the vapours accumulated near the mushroom clusters, including carbon dioxide.
To prevent this, oyster mushroom growers must control carbon dioxide levels. This is typically done with sensors and controllers. Ventilation systems are used to regulate the amount of fresh air in the growing chamber. During the pinning stage of the mushroom's growth cycle, carbon dioxide levels should be monitored carefully. Mushrooms extend their stems to find oxygen when carbon dioxide levels are high. If the cap is smaller than the body, this indicates that carbon dioxide concentrations are too high, resulting in "legging" or long stems.
Research has been conducted on the optimal ventilation system for oyster mushroom cultivation. A study by Ahn et al. evaluated four types of ventilation schemes: parallel-pressure, positive-pressure, negative-pressure, and positive-plus negative-pressure. The positive-plus negative-pressure type showed the highest efficiency of air circulation, with lower average carbon dioxide concentrations. This ventilation scheme also resulted in better morphological traits and fewer physiological abnormalities in the mushrooms.
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Carbon dioxide affects the shape of oyster mushrooms
Oyster mushrooms, like other fungi, do not have the process of photosynthesis, and therefore do not use carbon dioxide for their development and growth. However, an excess of carbon dioxide can affect the shape of the oyster mushroom.
Oyster mushrooms breathe using the oxygen in the air and emit carbon dioxide. They require a humidity of 75 to 93% to grow, and the humidity depends on the strain, temperature, and stage of development of the fungi. Oyster mushrooms grow in controlled environments, which can generate significant amounts of carbon dioxide as a by-product. This can lead to high levels of carbon dioxide in the growing environment, which can cause deformations in oyster mushrooms. The curvature of the mushroom fruits can vary, with a long stem and a small cap. This deformation is influenced by the concentration of carbon dioxide, temperature, and humidity in the growing environment, as well as the age of the mushroom at the time of exposure to carbon dioxide.
To control carbon dioxide levels, mushroom growers use sensors and controllers, along with a ventilation system that regulates the amount of fresh air. By monitoring carbon dioxide levels, especially during the critical pinning stage, growers can prevent deformities in the mushrooms. If carbon dioxide levels are too high during pinning, the developing fruit will extend its stem to search for oxygen, resulting in "legging" or long stems. Therefore, it is important to maintain the recommended carbon dioxide concentrations for different stages of mushroom growth to ensure optimal development and prevent shape abnormalities.
Additionally, oyster mushrooms do not require additional oxygen through ventilation as there is already at least 21% oxygen in the air, which is sufficient for their growth. However, proper ventilation is crucial to remove carbon dioxide and prevent it from accumulating along with water vapour, ensuring fresh air can reach the mushrooms.
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Mushrooms require less oxygen in sealed containers
Mushrooms, like other plants and higher fungi, require oxygen to breathe and emit carbon dioxide. They do not have the process of photosynthesis, so they do not use carbon dioxide for growth and development. In fact, an excess of carbon dioxide can affect the shape of the mushroom cap, deforming it and pulling out the stem.
Mushroom farmers must carefully monitor carbon dioxide levels during the pinning stage, a critical part of the mushroom's growth cycle. If there is too much carbon dioxide, the pins will have long stems as the developing fruit pushes higher in the air to search for oxygen. Conversely, if the stems are too short, it may indicate that the pins were introduced to low levels of carbon dioxide too soon.
To ensure optimal growth, some mushroom growers use ventilation systems to remove carbon dioxide and prevent it from hanging over the mushrooms along with water vapour. However, this is not always necessary, as there is typically at least 21% oxygen in the air, which is sufficient for most mushrooms.
Interestingly, in micro-environments with less oxygen than normal air, spoilage of mushrooms is slowed down. This preservation method has been used for centuries, as evidenced by ancient Chinese documents describing the sealing of litchi fruits in clay pots with leaves and grasses. During transport, the respiration of these materials created a high carbon dioxide, low oxygen environment that preserved the litchis. However, it is important to note that low-oxygen environments can also promote the growth of dangerous microorganisms, such as Clostridium botulinum, which can be fatal.
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Mushrooms produce a lot of water vapour
Mushrooms are fungi that, like other plants, require oxygen to breathe and emit carbon dioxide. However, unlike plants, mushrooms do not photosynthesise and therefore do not produce oxygen. When mushrooms breathe, they release moisture in the form of water vapour. This is why mushrooms require moist air to grow. The humidity required depends on the strain, temperature, and developmental stage of the fungi. For example, oyster mushrooms thrive in a humidity range of 75 to 93%.
Mushrooms are also highly porous, which means they release large amounts of water vapour. This high vapour production can cause issues with packaging, as the vapour can become trapped and create a humid environment that promotes the growth of microorganisms on the mushroom tissue. This results in unsightly blemishes that decrease the shelf life of the mushrooms.
To address this issue, researchers are experimenting with different packaging materials that allow for controlled humidity. For example, Ramaswamy Anantheswaran, a food science associate professor at Penn State University, is testing commercially available water vapour absorbers such as montmorillonite clay and silica gel. By incorporating these materials into the packaging, the goal is to maintain optimal humidity levels, improve mushroom colour, and extend shelf life.
Additionally, it is important to monitor carbon dioxide levels during the pinning stage of mushroom growth. High CO2 levels can lead to "legging," where the developing fruit pushes higher in search of oxygen, resulting in long stems. To prevent this, mushroom farmers use portable CO2 meters to ensure optimal CO2, humidity, and temperature conditions for their crops.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are fungi, and like all plants and higher fungi, they need oxygen to breathe. They take in oxygen and produce carbon dioxide.
Mushrooms absorb air, along with all the gases in it. They then adsorb and use the oxygen from the air and emit carbon dioxide.
No, mushrooms do not photosynthesise. This means they do not use carbon dioxide for their development and growth.
Mushrooms need a moist, humid environment to grow. They produce a lot of water vapour, so the air needs to be moist. They also need oxygen to breathe, but too much carbon dioxide can affect their shape.
