Laura Smith
Mushroom spores are asexual spores that contain the genetic code for new mushroom growth. To activate mushroom spores, they need to be inoculated onto a substrate. This can be done by creating a spore syringe, where the spores are rehydrated using sterile water and then used to inoculate the substrate. The spores can also be mixed with water and sprayed onto a substrate. However, this method is less effective and may result in contaminated grain. It is important to note that not all spores will germinate, even when they fall on wet materials. They require a physical or chemical activator in addition to water.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom type | Oysters, Wine Cap, shiitake, Agaricus bisporus |
| Spore collection | Remove the stem from a fresh, edible mushroom. Place the cap gill-side down on a piece of paper or foil. Add a drop of water to the cap, then cover with a bowl and leave for 24 hours. |
| Spore activation | Spores require water and a physical or chemical activator. |
| Spore syringe | Mix spores with sterile water in a syringe. |
| Inoculation | Use the spore syringe to inoculate the substrate. |
| Germination | Keep conditions humid and dark to encourage growth. |
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What You'll Learn
Collecting spores from a mushroom
Firstly, you need to select a mushroom. Make sure it is a known edible variety, and check for mould, brown spots, and mushy areas. Unhealthy mushrooms may not produce spores. Feel the cap to ensure it is firm and not wet and mushy. Flip the mushroom over and check that the gills are moist; if they are old and dry, they are less likely to release spores.
Secondly, prepare your equipment. You will need some paper and glass. If you plan to grow the mushrooms, use sterile paper, such as wax paper, or foil. Wipe the paper with 70% rubbing alcohol, or hold foil over a flame to sterilise it. If you are making a print for an art piece, you can use regular paper.
Thirdly, remove the stem from the mushroom. Cut the stem at its base, as close to the gills as possible, using scissors or a knife. Alternatively, you can pull out the stem, as it usually separates easily. If your mushroom has a skirt that protects the gills, use a heat-sterilised knife to carefully carve it out, avoiding the gills.
Next, place the mushroom gill-side down onto the paper. If your mushroom has pores instead of gills, put it pore-side down. Do not press down on the mushroom, as you might crush it. If you want to keep the stem attached, cut a hole in an index card, place it over a bowl, and insert the stem into the hole so the cap rests on the paper.
Then, add a drop of water to the top of the mushroom to keep it moist and encourage spore release. Cover the mushroom with a glass or a bowl and let it sit for 24 hours.
Finally, remove the bowl and cap to reveal the spores. You should see a print on the paper, which replicates the gill pattern from the mushroom. This is the spore print, which can be used to grow your own mushrooms. Keep the print in a sealed bag in a cool, dry, dark place until you are ready to cultivate.
Once you have a spore print, you can create a spore syringe to cultivate and grow your mushrooms. To do this, rehydrate the spores using sterile water, and then use the spore syringe to inoculate the growing medium. Make sure to work in a sterilised environment and with distilled water that has been boiled 2-3 times to eliminate any bacteria. Also, ensure that your syringe needle is sterile by holding it in a flame for a few seconds.
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Sterilising equipment and environment
Sterilising your equipment and environment is crucial to prevent contamination and ensure the successful activation of mushroom spores. Here are the steps to effectively sterilise your equipment and surroundings:
Begin by preparing your work area. Choose a clean, spacious, and well-ventilated area to work in. Cover your work surfaces with clean sheets or plastic coverings that can be disposed of or easily wiped down after use. Ensure that the room is free from drafts and has a consistent temperature to maintain sterility during the process.
Assemble all the equipment and tools you will need, including jars, lids, substrates, and any utensils such as knives, spoons, and measuring cups. Clean and wash all reusable equipment with hot water and soap before sterilisation. Remove any visible dirt or debris to ensure that the sterilisation process is effective.
There are several methods for sterilising equipment, and you can choose the one that best suits your resources and setup. One common method is to use a pressure cooker. Fill the pressure cooker with water and bring it to the correct
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Making a spore print
Step 1: Choose a Mushroom
Select a fresh and healthy mushroom with a large cap. If you plan on growing the mushrooms to eat, choose a type you know is safe and edible, and buy it from a store rather than foraging for wild mushrooms, as this can be dangerous. Check that the mushroom is firm and not wet or mushy, and that the gills are moist, as old and dry mushrooms are less likely to release spores.
Step 2: Prepare the Mushroom
Remove the stem from the mushroom, either by cutting it at its base with scissors or a knife, or by pulling it out, as it usually separates easily. If your mushroom has a skirt of cap growing over the gills, use a heat-sterilized knife to carefully carve it out, avoiding the gills. If you want to keep the stem attached, you can cut a hole in an index card, place it over a bowl, and insert the stem into the hole so that the cap rests on the paper.
Step 3: Prepare the Surface
Place the mushroom cap, gill-side down, onto a piece of paper or sterilized tin foil. If you plan to grow mushrooms from the spores, use a sterile surface such as paper or foil. If you want to preserve the spore print, you can use card stock or coloured paper. To make the spores easier to see, choose a colour that will highlight the spore colour; if you don't know the colour, black and white paper are good choices as they are the most common spore colours. If you want to see the spores under a microscope, use a glass microscope slide.
Step 4: Encourage Spore Release
Put a drop of water on the cap of the mushroom to keep it moist and encourage spore release. If you are using paper, you can draw a circle with a pencil around the cap before adding the water to make it easier to find white spores.
Step 5: Cover the Mushroom
Cover the mushroom with a bowl, glass, or paper cup. If using a cup, place something under one side to allow moisture to escape. Leave the covered mushroom for 2-24 hours, depending on the humidity and freshness of the mushroom.
Step 6: Reveal the Spore Print
After the allotted time, remove the cover and gently lift the mushroom. The spores will have fallen from the cap, creating a spore print that replicates the gill pattern. If you used foil, you can preserve the print by spraying it lightly with an artist spray or hair spray. If you used paper, keep the print in a sealed bag in a cool, dry, dark place until you are ready to use it.
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Mixing spores with water
To collect mushroom spores, you must first gently remove the cap from a mature mushroom and place it on a sterile surface, such as paper or foil. Leave it for 12 hours to release spores, which settle into a spore print. To make a spore print, place the mushroom with the gills facing down onto the paper and cover it with a glass. After 24 hours, remove the glass and the mushroom cap to reveal your spores. You can also add a drop of water to the mushroom cap to keep it moist and encourage spore release.
Once you have collected the spores, you can mix them with water. It is important to use sterile water to eliminate any bacteria. You can boil the water 2-3 times or use a pressure cooker to reach 15 psi and maintain this pressure for at least 30 minutes. Allow the water to cool to room temperature before mixing it with the spores.
After mixing the spores with water, you can squirt the mixture around your yard and planter beds where composted material is present. This method has a low success rate, and other methods, such as using a spore syringe or inoculating sterile grains, may be more effective.
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Inoculating the substrate
The substrate is the medium that the mycelium will grow in. It is where the mushroom mycelium will obtain all the nutrients it needs to develop and produce mushrooms. Different species of mushrooms prefer different substrates, and the substrate you choose will depend on the availability and ease of working with a particular substrate. For example, a straw-based substrate may be more accessible than a hardwood substrate. Wood-based substrates are optimal for mushrooms like reishi, lion's mane, and maitake, while oysters can grow on almost any substrate.
Before a substrate can be inoculated with mushroom spores or mycelium, it needs to be prepared. Water will need to be added to the substrate, and it may also need to be amended with extra nutrients. The substrate needs to be sterilized or pasteurized to kill off any competing mold or bacteria. This gives the desired species of mushroom the best chance of taking hold.
To inoculate the substrate, you will need to add the mushroom spawn to the substrate. Always thoroughly wash your hands and forearms with soap, and wipe your work area down with an antibacterial cleanser to avoid contamination. Crumble the mushroom spawn into little bits from the package. Add the spawn to the substrate after opening the black bag at the top. Using your hands, evenly distribute the spawn throughout the substrate. For rapid growth, an even combination is essential.
If you are growing shiitake mushrooms, you can prepare your own bags of substrate using sawdust and bran. You will need a pressure cooker for this step. Fill a heat-resistant plastic bag with the mixture. Fold the tops of the bag over so the filter patch can allow gases to escape when heated. Preheat your pressure cooker to 120°C. Place the steamer basket in the pot with the recommended amount of water for your cooker. In the steamer basket, place the bag of substrate mix so that it does not come into contact with the water. The cooking time is 2 hours. Put on your oven mitts and remove the pressure cooker from the oven. Remove the bag from the cooker and store it in a room free of germs that could cause contamination. Before inoculating the block with spawn, let it cool to at least 30°C.
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Frequently asked questions
Collecting mushroom spores is a simple process. You will need a bowl, some water, a piece of paper, and a mushroom. Remove the stem from a fresh mushroom, then put the cap gill-side down onto the paper. Put a drop of water on the cap, then cover it with a bowl and let it sit for 24 hours.
Spores need a physical or chemical activator in addition to water. To activate the spores, you can create a spore syringe by mixing your spores into sterile water inside a syringe.
After activating the spores, you can inoculate a prepared substrate (like compost or substrate blocks) with the collected spores. Keep conditions humid and dark to encourage growth.
